Frederick Hart (1943-1999) was one of the most renowned figurative sculptors of his day. After following in the tradition of apprenticing to a master stone carver, Hart proceeded to revolutionize the sculpting process by pioneering the use of clear acrylic resin, which is sometimes called “sculpting with light.” Hart even patented a sculpting process in which one acrylic sculpture is embedded in another, a method which prompted author Michael Novak to claim that “The work of Frederick Hart is changing the world of art.”

Hart’s most famous sculptures can be found in Washington D.C. He gained international renown for his “The Creation Sculptures” on the west façade of the Washington National Cathedral, the sixth largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Hart also created the “Three Soldiers” Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Rooms of the Capitol building also showcase bronze busts created by Hart, like those of Senators Richard Russell and Strom Thurmond. Because of these works, Hart was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the United States Government.

Hart worked passionately on his art until he died in 1999 of lung cancer. When speaking of his craft, Hart said: “I believe that art has a moral responsibility, that it must pursue something higher than itself. Art must be a part of life. It must exist in the domain of the common man. It must be an enriching, ennobling, and vital partner in the public pursuit of civilization. It should be a majestic presence in everyday life just as it was in the past.”