For works in progress, also events in and around the sculpture studio, please visit http://restlessrocks.blogspot.com
RESUME – DON LAWLER
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
1986 Apprenticeship, Barney Bright, Bronze Sculptor, Louisville, Kentucky
1987-89 Apprenticeship, Paul Fields, Stone Sculptor, Louisville, Kentucky
PUBLIC SCULPTURE
2025 City of Pflugerville, TX, acquisition of “One Way or Another”
2025 City of Pflugerville, TX, acquisition of “Daydreamer”
2024 Alumni Center, University of Louisville lease of 8 large sculptures
2023 City of Frankfort, KY lease of “Star Seed”
2023 City of Frankfort, KY lease of “Determination”
2022 Lexington, KY acquisition of “Battery Bench”
2022 White River State Park, Indianapolis, IN acquisition of “Harmony” after lease
2021 Champaign Parks District, Champaign, IL acquisition of “Twirling Smile Flower Seat”
2020 Lexington, KY acquisition of “River Music” after lease
2019 Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens, Mahomet, IL acquisition of “A New Leaf”
2019 Leander Public Library, Leander, TX acquisition of “Magic Carpet Bench”
2018 1 Main Street, Urbana, IL lease of “Testing the Water”
2018 Trails at Brittany, Champaign, IL lease of “Daydreamer”
2018 White River State Park, Indianapolis IN lease of “Harmony” after lease
2017 Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky commission of “Great White Buffalo”
2016 Allerton Park, Monticello, IL lease of “Shooting Star”
2016 City of Urbana, IL lease of “A New Leaf”
2016 Woodland Waterway, The Woodlands, TX commission of “Family Tree”
2015 University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN acquisition of “Crucible”
2014 Mitch McConnell Plaza, Owensboro, KY acquisition of “Oberon”
2013 Robert T Webb Sculpture Garden, Dalton, GA acquisition of “Seedling”
2013 Art on the River, City of Dubuque, IA lease of “Riverboat Bench”
2012 1 Main Street, Urbana, IL acquisition of “Ripples” after lease
2012 City Hall, Oak Park, IL acquisition of “Pod of Sun Seeds” after lease
2012 Main Library, Oak Park, IL acquisition of “Entwined Seedlings” after lease
2011 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN acquisition of “Man and Technology”
2010 Highland Park, Roanoke, VA commission of “Caring”
2010 Highland Park, Roanoke, Virginia commission of “Strength”
2009 Municipal Grounds, Sylacauga, AL acquisition of “Falling Star”
2008 Courthouse Square, Lafayette, Indiana acquisition of “Transcend”
2008 Ft. Nugent Park, Oak Harbor, WA commission of “Release”
2008 Life of the River Sculpture Walk, Green Bay, WI commission of “Currents”
2008 The Temple, Louisville, KY commission of 3 pieces “Fire”, “Water” & “Air”
2007 Greenway Heritage Trail, Winona Lake, Indiana acquisition of “Harmony”
2007 Public Safety Building, Blue Springs, Mo acquisition of “Providence” after lease
2007 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN acquisition of “Fluorish”
2006 Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, KY acquisition of “Waiting for Godot”
2006 Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg IL, Art Team member Meg White “Awaking Muse”
2004 Hunter Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY acquisition “Emerging”
2003 Ashland Recreational Center, Denver CO, Art Team member with Meg White “Swimmers”
2001 Bernheim Forest, Clermont, KY acquisition of “Newborn Crescent”
2000 Nia Center, Louisville, KY, Art Team member with Meg White “opportunity Portal”
1997 Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1997 Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky
1996 Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, Ohio commission of “Spinozalith”
1995 Baser Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky
1994 Kentucky DOT, Frankfort, Kentucky
1993 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Louisville, Kentucky
1992 Kosair Children’s Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
1988 Central Park, Louisville, Kentucky
1985 Faith Community Church, Harned, Kentucky
BIOGRAPHY
1961 -79 – Born, Dayton, Ohio. age 1-5 on maternal grandparents 175 acre farm near Brandenburg, KY, grades K-3 at Brentwood Academy private school, Woodbridge, VA, grade 4 in Benzonia MI public school, grade 5-12 Meade County public school and graduated from Meade County High School in 1979.
1983 – Graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art from Centre College of Danville, Kentucky.
1986 – Apprenticeship with the Louisville bronze sculptor, Barney Bright.
1987-89 – Apprenticeship with the Louisville stone sculptor, Paul Fields.
1990 – Returned to Meade County, Kentucky and pursued a full-time career in stone sculpture from the studio located in Ekron, Kentucky.
2000 – Formed Lawler-White Sculpture Studios, Inc. with corporate partner, Meg White with the purpose of creating monumental sculptures in stone and bronze for public and private venues.
2001 to present – Moved the sculpture studio to the current location near Yellow Bank Wildlife Management Area in Stephensport, Kentucky with 6 acres of sculpture garden space.
Exhibitions (selected)
2023 group show Kleinhelter Gallery, New Albany, IN
2020 “Cut in Stone”, Kentucky Artisan Center Berea
2018 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Urbana, IL
2017 1st Annual Kyana Outdoor Sculpture Show, Uttica, IN
2016 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Urbana, IL
2016 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Allerton Park, Monticello, IL
2015 8th Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show, Crestwood, KY
2014 7th Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show, Crestwood, KY
2013 6th Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show, Crestwood, KY
2012 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Champaign, IL
2012 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Oak Park, IL
2010 3rd Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show, Crestwood, KY
2009 2nd Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show – Honorary Co-Chairperson
2008 1st Annual Yew Dell Outdoor Sculpture Show – Honorary Co-Chairperson
2008 Temporary OutdoorSculpture Show, Lafayette, IN
2007 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Show, Blue Springs, MO
1995-2006 Records of exhibitions lost in hard drive failure.
1994 June Two Person Show, Elizabethtown Community College, Elizabethtown, KY,
1994 March Two Person Show, KY Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY
1994 Feb 25 – April 2 Regional Approaches Stone Sculpture, Louisville Visual Arts Assoc, Louisville, KY
1994 Jan. 12 – March 4 “Kentucky Stone”, KY Art and Craft Gallery, Louisville, KY
1993 June 18-25 “Best of Waterside”, Louisville Visual Art Assoc,. Louisville, KY
1993 May 18 – July 10 “Garden Benches”, KY Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY, “Fluorite Bench”
1992 April 2 – May 7 Two Person Show, Park Gallery, Louisville, KY
1991 May 23 “In Memory of…”, KY Art & Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY
1991 March 12 – May 7 Two person show, KY Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY
1991 April Cherokee Triangle Art Fair, Louisville, KY, Best of Show and $100.00 award
1990 Dec 3 – Jan. 7 “Dolls”, Louisville Visual Art Assoc., Louisville, KY, “Raggedy Ann Thinker”
1990 KY Craft Market, Louisville, KY, 2nd place award
1989 October St. James Court Art Fair, Louisville, KY
1989 Sept. “Creativity Under Duress”, Water Tower Art Assoc., Louisville, KY, assisted visiting Russian sculptor, Yuri K, in temporary large-scale stone installation
1989 August KY State Fair Art Show, Louisville, KY, “Hand study”, $2,000.00 purchase award from Falls City Community Gallery
1989 August KY State Fair Art Show, Louisville, KY, “Crazy Hand”, 1st place and $110.00 award and Best of Show and $25.00 award
1988 August KY State Fair Art Show, Louisville, KY, “Modern Living”, 1st place and $110.00 award and Best of Show and $25.00 award
1989 May 1st Annual Outdoor Sculpture Show, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY, “Menhir #1”
1988 July 1st Annual Sculpture Invitational, Merida Rapp Gallery, Louisville, KY, 19 piece outdoor installation
1988 April Water Tower Art Assoc., Louisville, KY, “Fire Spirit”
1987 October Visual Arts Network, “Walk, Talk and Gawk”, outdoor sculpture show, Louisville, KY, “Traces”
1987 June Crescent Café and Gallery, Louisville, KY, “Pearl Diver”
1987 March 29 Capitol Arts Center Juried Art Show, Bowling Green, KY, “Pearl Diver”, 2nd place and $50.00 award
1986 May 17 – June 5 15th Annual Coca Cola Art Show, Elizabethtown, KY, “Bird of Prey”
1985 August 19th Annual Mother Lode Art Show, Placerville Arts Assoc., Placerville, CA “Hold it up to the Light”, Merit and $50.00 award
1985 July Intermountain Art Assoc. Juried Art Show, McArthur, CA, “Recling Reader”, 4th place award
1985 July Intermountain Art Assoc. Juried Art Show, McArthur, CA, “Reclining Reader”, 1st place and $50.00 award
1985 May Whirlpool Regional Sculpture Exhibition, touring St. Joseph, MI, Evansville,IN, Ft. Smith, AR, “Bird of Prey”, 4th place and $500.00 award
1985 April Southeast Arts Council Regional Spotlight ’85, touring, “Fire on the Mountain”
1985 February Alpenfest Ice Sculpture, Mt. Shasta, CA, 1st place ice sculpture and $100.00 award
1985 February Alpenfest Ice Sculpture, Mt. Shasta, CA, collaboration with Margaret Britton, 1st place snow sculpture and $100.00 award
1985 February Siskiyou Art’s Council Annual Directory Contest, Yreka, CA, “Q”
1984 May 12-31 13th Annual Coca-Cola Juried Art Show, Elizabethtown, KY, “Exposure: It is Impossible to Achieve an Aim without Suffering”
1983 Nov. one man show, Senior Seminar, Centre College, Danville, KY
1983 Nov. Encounter, “The Future”, Centre College, Danville, KY, “Day After Tomorrow”, 3rd place and $10.00 award
1983 August Wilderness Trace Gallery, Danville KY
1983 May Student Art Exhibit, Danville, KY, “I Find it Nice on the Beach”
1982 May Student Art Exhibit, Danville, KY, “Venus of Willendorf and friend”
1981 May Student Art Exhibit, Danville, KY, “Elephant Man”
1980 May Student Art exhibit, Danville, KY, “Chains”
COVERAGE BY VARIOUS MEDIA – (I hope to bring this list up to date soon, it’s missing the additions of the last 10 years!)
VIDEO / TV (selected)
2001 HGTV Modern Masters episode 708
1994 Louisville Tonight
BOOKS
1999 Gardens of Kentucky, Spears, Amy
MAGAZINES (selected)
2008 Nov-Dec Kentucky Home & Gardens, Louisville KY
2007 Fall Centrepiece, Centre Alumni Magazine, Danville KY
2006 Sep-Oct Kentucky Home and Gardens, Louisville KY
2002 Spring Centrepiece, Centre Alumni Magazine, Danville KY
2001 Jan Stone World Magazine
2000 June 28 LEO Magazine, Louisville KY
2000 July 7 National Sculpture Society, News Bulletin, New York NY
1994 July Louisville Magazine, Best of Louisville feature
SHOW CATALOGS (selected)
2008 June Yew Dell Gardens Outdoor Sculpture Show, Louisville KY Honorary co-chair
2007 April Red, White and Blue Springs, Blue Springs MO
1994 Stone Approaches, a regional invitational
1994 Kentucky Art & Craft Foundation, stone show
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES (selected))
2009 Jan 18 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-3
2008 May 27 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, front page
2008 Sep 3 Whidbey News Time, Oak Harbor WA, front page
2008 Aug 8 Whidbey News Time, Oak Harbor WA
2005 Nov 6 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-6
2004 Oct 22 Rocky Mountain News, Denver CO
2003 May 1 Pioneer Press, Chicago IL
2003 April 28 Chicago Tribune
2003 April 19 Daily Herald, Chicago IL, 1-7
2003 April 18 Daily Herald, Chicago IL, front page
2001 Jan 28 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-3
2001 April 29 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-4
2000 May 19 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, B-1
1999 June 13 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-1
1998 Dec 23 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, B-2
1997 June 12 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, E-1
1994 Nov 13 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts
1994 Jan 30 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1994 April 3 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-4
1993 May 16 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1992 April 2 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1990 Sep 19 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1990 April 22 The State Journal, Frankfort KY
1989 Sep 7 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1989 Aug 20 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1988 May 5 Martinsville Indiana Newspaper
1987 Feb 11 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1987 Feb 10 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1986 Sep 20 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1986 Sep 9 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1985 April 5 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, Byron Crawford
1985 April 3 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1985 April 3 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1984 July 16 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, Byron Crawford
1980 Aug The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY