(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Richard Hunt, a visionary sculptor and influential advocate for Civil Rights, died peacefully Saturday in his Chicago home, according to an announcement on his official website. Hunt was 88.
Born in Chicago on Sept. 12, 1935, Hunt was the son of a barber and the first Black librarian in Chicago. He grew up in Woodlawn and Englewood and, over nearly seven decades, went on to create over 160 public sculpture commissions in 24 states and Washington, D.C.
In a statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Hunt left "an indelible impact on our city and our world."
According to the official statement posted to his website, Hunt's artistic trajectory started to take shape in 1953 when he attended an exhibition titled "Sculpture of the Twentieth Century" at the Art Institute of Chicago. Two years later, he attended the open-casket funeral of Emmett Till, and following those experiences Hunt taught himself to weld.
Hunt gained national recognition in 1957 when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City bought his sculpture, "Arachne." He went on to study art in Europe, and he worked at the Marinelli foundry in Florence. After returning to the U.S. in 1958, Hunt served in the military and held his first solo exhibition in New York.
In 1968, Hunt became the first African American visual artist to serve on the National Council on the Arts, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Throughout Hunt's illustrious career, he sculpted monuments honoring Civil Rights figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Jesse Owens, Hobart Taylor, Jr., and Ida B. Wells. His bronze sculpture, "Swing Low," which resides in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, was a tribute to the African American Spiritual.
Hunt's impact extended beyond the realm of art. He served on numerous boards, committees, and councils, including as a Commissioner for the National Museum of American Art. Hunt received over 30 major awards, including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center.
On April 24, 2023, Illinois First Lady M.K. Pritzker proclaimed "Richard Hunt Day" to celebrate Hunt's life's achievements. In his final days, Hunt completed the sculptural model for "Hero Ascending," a monument honoring Emmett Till.
Hunt was survived by his daughter Cecilia, an artist, and his sister Marian, a retired librarian, both of whom reside in Chicago.
A public celebration of Hunt's art and life will be held in spring 2024.
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