• Parade Location Address: 114 E. Highland Drive
• Ph: 830-249-8281
• Hm: 210-698-9509
• E-mail: vgb912@aol.com
• Web site: www.virgilgraves.com
• Media: Bronze sculpture
• Subjects: Wildlife and native peoples. A native Texan, Virgil spent his former career as a doctor. "I strive for anatomic and historic correctness, but not photographic realism."
• Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat. 10am-4 pm closed Sun. & Mon. Also open by Appointment.

I am a native Texan, born and raised in north Texas. I am a sculptor and present my work in three-dimensional form using bronze as the primary medium. I portray subjects associated with the earth, native peoples and wildlife of the southwest. My goal is to share the visual beauty and mystical feel of the west with the viewer.

Virgil GravesI received a B.A., Math and Physics from Austin College, a Masters, Mathematics from Southern Methodist University, an M.D. from the University of Texas and a post Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroradiology, University of Wisconsin.

Following completion of my education my life as a physician and my love of the outdoors took me to Montana. My years in Montana brought together my interest in wildlife and native peoples with my love of the arts. Montana was rich in outdoor experiences and in artistic resources. The Artist Community enabled me to explore and develop my artistic interests. I worked with pencil, pen and ink, printmaking, painting and clay. Sculpture became my focus and was the medium that allowed me to best express the visual beauty, emotion, energy, power and mystical feel of the indigenous peoples and wildlife. I have been an active sculptor for over twenty years. Bronze, as a medium is permanent and lasting, but also has cold and hardness as physical characteristics. I incorporate negative space and form to bring the work to life. I strive for anatomic detail and historic correctness, but try to avoid photographic realism. Bronze has the natural quality to take on patinas, which add warmth and color. I simplify form and structure to add softness, movement and life. A sculpture should draw a person to it over and again, produce complex feelings and emotions and re-create a special moment or experience.

My life as a physician brought me to the University of Wisconsin. I had both a clinical and academic career at the University. I was professor of Radiology and Neurosurgery. Wisconsin enhanced my artistic development. The access to art and the varied and large number of birds in Wisconsin brought new perspective to my sculptures. I continued to maintain a home and studio in Montana and combined the experiences from both environments.

I now devote all my effort and energy to sculpting. I have returned to my native Texas and live and work in the Texas Hill Country. The wildlife is plentiful and varied and the connection to the indigenous peoples is strong. The Hill Country and Texas coast are remarkable and rich resources for my work. There is a strong artist community in the Hill Country that provides creative stimulation and constructive criticism. It is an environment that has accelerated my growth as an artist.

Sculptures are in Galleries in Texas and Montana and have been selected for the CM Russell Museum Juried Auction, Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Art in the Park juried show, and juried auction/show for Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited. My sculptures are in private collections in Montana, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Toronto, Canada. I am an active member of the Boerne Area Artists Association and the Texas Society of Sculptors.