1999 Prix de West Collectors' Pin: Proud and Free by Kent Ullberg

Please note that this pin does not include a horsehair tie.

The 1999 Prix de West Collectors’ Bolo, Proud and Free, was designed by Swedish-born American sculptor Kent Ullberg, one of the leading wildlife sculptors of the late 20th century. Offered here as a pin, it features an eagle, an especially fitting subject for Ullberg, whose career has centered on the beauty, power, and natural behavior of wildlife. Ullberg became a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, and is known for monumental wildlife sculpture and numerous public commissions.

Ullberg had already achieved an important distinction at Prix de West when he created this design. In 1998, he received the Prix de West Purchase Award for Ocean’s Cradle, a bronze depicting a mother sea otter with her pup. The sculpture was inspired by a three-day trip to California's Monterey Peninsula, where Ullberg sketched and photographed sea otters in the Pacific. At the time, Ullberg explained that the work was intended to show how sea otter pups spend much of their first year resting on their mothers' chests. He also noted that adding a Pacific Ocean subject to the collection could "broaden the vision of what people think about the American West."

The following year, Ullberg designed the 1999 Prix de West Collectors’ Bolo, making Proud and Free an especially notable piece within the series. Its eagle subject reflects the artist's broader commitment to wildlife sculpture while its bronze construction translates the scale, presence, and detail of his larger works into a distinctly Western form. Contemporary and auction records identify the piece as a 1999 Prix de West bronze bolo and document its 21 1/4-inch length.

For collectors, Proud and Free represents an important moment in Ullberg's Prix de West career: it was created immediately after his 1998 Purchase Award and at a time when his reputation as a major wildlife sculptor was firmly established. The bolo combines the artistry of a nationally recognized sculptor with the history of Prix de West, making it a distinctive collectible for those interested in Western art, wildlife sculpture, and the legacy of the exhibition.

The Collectors' Bolo tradition began in 1986.

Add to your collection of our Prix de West bolos or start your collection today! These pins are replicas of the original artwork. Pins do not include a horsehair tie.

Discounts are not available for this item.