Christian Petersen

Danish-American sculptor Christian Petersen (1883-1961), Iowa State University (then Iowa State College) sculptor-in-residence from 1934 to 1955. During his 21 years as a working teacher-artist, he pioneered in hands-on sculpture classes and art appreciation for beginners and non-art majors at a land-grant agricultural college, enhancing the lives of students, faculty and area residents for decades thereafter. He created 12 major public works of art for campus, and 38 studio works of art for Iowa State, as well as hundreds of private commissions. He created more than 1250 known works of art.