Paul Grunland Super Rare Number One in a Series of Two Bronze Sculpture 1975 12"

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Fresh from a mid-western estate, this remarkable bronze is No. 1 of an edition of only 2. Signed numbered and … Read more Fresh from a mid-western estate, this remarkable bronze is No. 1 of an edition of only 2. Signed numbered and dated 1975. 12" x 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" in excellent condition. I have not been able to determine a title, but it has been suggested that it is from the Flight Study Series.
Paul Theodore Granlund (1925–2003) was a renowned American figurative sculptor best known for creating more than 650 bronze works that masterfully merge the human form with geometric structures, nature, and movement. Deeply rooted in Minnesota, he spent 25 years as the sculptor-in-residence at Gustavus Adolphus College. His expressive public commissions explore themes of transformation, anatomy, faith, and human connection.
Core Biography & Education
Early Life: Born on October 6, 1925, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Granlund was the son of a Lutheran minister. This upbringing profoundly shaped the spiritual and biblical undertones found throughout his portfolio.
Military Service: During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces and flew a reconnaissance mission over Hiroshima just two days after the atomic bomb drop—an experience that heavily influenced his focus on human unity and peace.
Education & Fellowships: He earned a BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1952 and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1954. He subsequently mastered traditional bronze casting in Italy through prestigious Fulbright (Florence) and Guggenheim (Rome) fellowships.
Career & Artistic Philosophy
Granlund chaired the sculpture department at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in the 1960s before returning to Gustavus Adolphus College as sculptor-in-residence from 1971 to 1996. The college built a custom studio for him, where he relied heavily on the lost-wax casting technique to craft sculptures that focused on bodies in motion and evolving states of being.
Granlund passed away on September 15, 2003, from respiratory complications linked to long-term exposure to the chemicals and dust inherent to bronze sculpting.
Major Works and Public Installations
Granlund's bronze sculptures are scattered across midwestern campuses, hospitals, churches, and international landmarks:
Constellation Earth / Anthrosphere: Features interconnected human bodies configured in the shapes of the seven continents, symbolizing global harmony. In 1992, it became the first piece by an American artist installed in the Nagasaki Peace Park in Japan.
Charles A. Lindbergh, The Boy and the Man: A tribute piece with editions famously installed at the Le Bourget Airfield near Paris and the San Diego Airport.
Regional Highlights: Prominent installations reside at Christ Chapel, the Minnesota State Capitol, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Como Zoo, and the Mayo Clinic.


SKU:
445O1926A1131/62S See less