Laura Gardin Fraser

Laura Gardin Fraser was an eminent American sculptor and medalist, celebrated for her prolific contributions to medallic art and public monuments. A student of the Art Students League of New York, she became one of the most honored female sculptors of the early 20th century, winning several prestigious competitions. Her work is held in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, she moved to Stamford as a child and demonstrated early artistic talent. She pursued formal training at the Art Students League of New York, where she studied under notable sculptors like Hermon Atkins MacNeil and James Earle Fraser, whom she would later marry. Her education there placed her within a vibrant artistic community that emphasized classical techniques and Beaux-Arts principles, foundational to her future career in numismatics and monumental sculpture.

Career and major works

Fraser established a successful career, receiving significant commissions for public monuments and creating numerous celebrated medallic pieces. Among her major works are the double equestrian statue of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson in Baltimore, known as the Lee–Jackson Monument, and the James Earle Fraser medal for the Salmagundi Club. She designed the American Numismatic Society's Koehler Medal and created iconic sculptures for organizations like the National Institute of Social Sciences. Her animal sculptures, such as those for the Brookgreen Gardens, are also widely admired.

Washington quarter design

In 1931, Fraser won a competition to design the new Washington quarter, commissioned by the United States Commission of Fine Arts to mark the bicentennial of Washington's birth. Her elegant portrait of George Washington was selected over submissions by other renowned artists. However, the Treasury Department ultimately rejected her design in favor of one by John Flanagan; this decision was influenced by Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon. Her design was finally issued on a 2022 American Women quarter, honoring Maya Angelou.

Later life and legacy

In her later years, Fraser remained active, serving on the board of the National Sculpture Society and continuing to produce medallic work. She was elected to the National Academy of Design and received the Salmagundi Club's gold medal for her contributions to American art. Her legacy endures through her extensive body of work in museums and public spaces, and she is recognized as a pioneering figure who helped elevate the status of women in the fields of sculpture and numismatics. The Laura Gardin Fraser Award is given in her honor by the American Numismatic Association.

Personal life

In 1923, she married her former teacher, the distinguished sculptor James Earle Fraser, creator of the End of the Trail and the Buffalo nickel. The couple collaborated professionally and shared a studio in Westport, becoming a central part of the artistic community there. They had no children and were dedicated to their work and to each other until James's death in 1953. Fraser lived her final years in Norwalk, where she continued to work until her own death.

Category:American sculptors Category:American medallists Category:1889 births Category:1966 deaths