Virtual Art Tour

Dan Ostermiller, American, born 1956

Winged Rapture

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program wrote the following for their 2001 fund raising auction regarding Dan Ostermiller: “The sculpture of Dan Ostermiller is usually given the label ‘animal sculpture,’ however, within that field can be found a wide range of subjects and interpretations. From the barnyard to the vast American Great Plains, from the back porch to the Zambezi Valley, Ostermiller’s animals are studies in elegance and power. They are also depictions of their very essence - the lumbering strength of the grizzly, the feline grace of the cat or the charming vulnerability of the lop-eared rabbit.”

Ostermiller approaches sculpture through his boyhood love of animals and hunting. His thorough knowledge of animals, acquired from years of experience with his father, Roy, a renowned taxidermist, is the foundation for his work. Ostermiller has built upon this foundation by careful study of animal habits and instincts. Drawing from his many travels abroad, he creates animal figures in context with their natural surroundings. The clash of two bull elephants squared off in combat comes across as convincingly as does the flight of a soaring eagle with eight-foot wingspan. The viewer feels the impact of the elephant’s flesh against flesh and can trace the arc of the bird’s imaginary path across the sky.

In the tradition of the French 19th century animaliers, Ostermiller’s work is true to the subject. Yet, his work has a realism that is not just an accurate rendering of the subject, but a sophisticated combination of line and composition. His thorough grounding in taxidermy lends authority to his designs. But the technique that evolved out of his knowledge of anatomy gives his work spontaneity, setting it outside the realm of mere duplication of an animal’s image. Infusing each design is personality - a combination of the sculptor’s and the subject’s. This spirit, the feeling the work imparts to the viewer, is the hallmark of an Ostermiller sculpture.

Ostermiller has been a catalyst for support and promotion of the arts in his home of Loveland, CO. He has been recognized by his peers through election as fellow in the National Sculpture Society and the Society of Animal Artists, both professional organizations headquartered in New York City. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of the National Sculpture Society, providing a strong, active voice for sculptors working west of the Mississippi and advocating methods to present American figurative sculpture to new audiences. He is also known in his hometown as a strong advocate for wildlife and is a strong supporter of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.