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Alive in their stillness, action in hard cold bronze, truthful in their depiction and detail, looking at a Bill Nebeker sculpture is to get an honest and authentic portrayal of the personalities from the historic American West or contemporary ranch life. They are created from a strong sense of honor, loyalty and humility which not only describes his character, but also the feelings he holds for the West. His knack for weaving an unobtrusive storyline into a sculpture challenges the unsuspecting viewer, “Oh! Now I get it!” That moment of discovery is at the heart of experiencing and appreciating Bill’s bronzes.
As a member of CAA since 1978, Bill has won Gold and Silver awards in sculpture, a Best of Show and the Phoenix Art Museum Purchase Award, as well as twice being elected as the group’s president by his fellow artists. His talent has gained him several commissions for larger than life-sized statues around Arizona. Bill has recently created the “Territorial Sheriff” at the city court complex in Glendale, Arizona, “Early Prescott Settlers” for his hometown of Prescott, and the “Memorial Tribute to Fallen Officers” at the Phoenix headquarters of Arizona’s Department of Public Safety.
Bill’s career began when in 1964 he was inspired by the work of George Phippen, the first president of the Cowboy Artists of America. At a one-man show in Prescott, Bill was exposed first hand to bronze sculptures portraying the cowboy and Indians he had always been attracted to as a native of the West. Three short years later he began working at the late Mr. Phippen’s Bear Paw Bronze Works in Skull Valley, Arizona as a foundryman. With the encouragement, advice and critical eye of the Phippen family he continued his passionate pursuit of sculpting the people and animals of the Old West and contemporary ranch life. Casting his new creations into bronze and placing them in galleries and shows around the Southwest was a dream come true for the young man who had never thought of art as a possible career.
His work can be seen at Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale and Jackson Hole, Texas Art Gallery in Dallas, Sorrel Sky Gallery in Durango, Colorado, Gallery at Midlane in Houston, Ivory Art Gallery in Ouray, Colorado and Claggett Rey Gallery in Vail, Colorado. |
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High Tailin' It
bronze, 27"h x 43" x 16"
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