2007 Prix de West Collectors' Bolo: Centennial by Gerald Balciar

Gerald Balciar was honored to create the 2007 Prix de West Collectors’ Bolo, titled “Centennial,” featuring the scissortail flycatcher—the state bird of Oklahoma—rendered in bronze with a gleaming gold finish. The lifelike sculpture captures the bird in an elegant, poised stance, evoking the spirit and resilience of Oklahoma’s centennial celebration.

Born in northern Wisconsin on August 28, 1942, Balciar’s fascination with art began in grade school. His work is celebrated for a distinctive style rooted in an intimate knowledge of wildlife, drawing on a vast reference library of photographs, study casts, and live observations. He personally oversees every stage of bronze creation, beginning with modeling in clay or wax, mold-making, metal chasing, welding, and patination, ensuring each sculpture reflects his exacting vision.

Balciar’s reputation for monumental sculpture is celebrated in works such as the 20-foot bronze moose Centennial (1988) in Mooseheart, Illinois, and the 18-foot marble cougar Canyon Princess (1995), installed in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. A Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and a member of the Society of Animal Artists and Allied Artists of America, he has earned numerous awards—most notably the 1985 Prix de West Purchase Award for River Companions, the 1990 Buyers’ Choice Award, and the 2007 James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award.

A lifelong educator as well as artist, Balciar has taught at the Scottsdale Artists School, Art Students League of Denver, and Loveland Academy, sharing his technical mastery and passion for wildlife portrayal. His sculptures are held in collections including the Gilcrease Museum, National Museum of Wildlife Art, and Autry Museum of the American West.

The 2007 bolo “Centennial” exemplifies Balciar’s deep connection to natural subjects and his artistry in miniature form, a wearable homage to Oklahoma and its symbol.