Cultural Heroes

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“The artist must take sides.” - Paul Robeson

Cultural Heroes features the first seven icons of an ongoing series of artists who were key role players for Civil Rights, putting their careers on the line. Sculpted in a moment of performance, these colossal portrait heads also represent various ways of handling clay, always with the intent to make the material and its treatment at least as important as the subject matter. The artist's seven role models currently represented in the sculptures are Marian Anderson, Woody Guthrie, Billie Holiday, Lead Belly, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith and Josh White.

Alan LeQuire strives to create a larger-than-life portrait that has the breath of life of the individual. Sculpting his personal heroes, LeQuire understands and communicates their artistic ecstasy. The result is a miraculous object that possesses the living presence of a person and gives it permanence. Insight into a personality can be found through movement sensed through posture and passion projected through expression.

A man stands with his left hand on his hip, looking at large sculptures of human faces in a room with white brick walls.

For the sculptor, the manipulation of the clay is his signature. The Cultural Heroes series showcases Alan LeQuire's passion for working with clay and his impulse to infuse the clay with the living presence of a person. "With the Cultural Heroes series, I wanted to create larger-than-life portrait heads that would affect the viewer with their beauty and presence," states Sculptor Alan LeQuire. "I am interested in real people whose art succeeded despite obstacles. This early 20th Century group represents the great contributions of the artists who were the grandparents of the Civil Rights movement."

Photography Credit: Dean Dixon

An artistic sculpture of a human face made from numerous small, textured, beige objects resembling seeds or stones, set against a black background.

PAUL ROBESON (1898-1976)

Paul Robeson, son of a slave, was Valedictorian, Phi Beta Kappa and Football All-American at Rutgers in 1919; and then earned his law degree from Columbia University. He went on to become a major movie star, the first black man in a century to star in Othello and the highest paid concert artist in the world. In Europe, he emerged as a respected political and social activist, led a movement to free Africa from colonialism and inspired millions in their labor and independence movements. But in America, he was blacklisted as a communist sympathizer. Later in life, he devoted all his energies to political activism and speaking out against injustice. Constricted with vascular disease, the world’s preeminent artist/activist died at 77.

Close-up of a bronze bust sculpture of an Asian woman with braided hair, against a black background.

BILLIE HOLIDAY (1915-1959)

Billie Holiday is regarded as the most inventive, if not the greatest, jazz vocalist in history. Her uniquely pained voice was able to reach down and touch the darkest corners of every soul regardless of race, language or nationality. In the process, Holiday became a civil rights trailblazer, who, despite risks to her own career, forged paths and opened doors for all African-Americans. Her 1939 anti-lynching recording Strange Fruit caused a media frenzy and elevated the national racial discussion. Holiday died of heart and liver failure at 44. In 1999, Time Magazine voted Strange Fruit the “Most Important Song of the Century.”

Bronze bust sculpture of a man with detailed facial features and textured hair against a black background.

HUDDIE “LEAD BELLY” LEDBETTER (1918-1949)

Lead Belly, the King of the 12-String Guitar, was born on a Louisiana plantation and by the age of 15 was earning a living as a street singer. Life was oppressive for a black man living in Jim Crow South and after 19 years spent on chain gangs and in prisons, John and Alan Lomax helped to gain his parole in 1934 and then recorded him for the Library of Congress. His folk songs have become a vital part of America’s cultural history, while his work songs and songs of social conscience have greatly influenced our national discussion about racism and segregation. Just months after Lead Belly’s death of ALS disease at the age of 60, his song Goodnight Irene became the #1 radio hit in America.

Bronze sculpture of a woman's head with closed eyes and styled hair, set against a black background.

WOODY GUTHRIE (1912-1967)

Woody Guthrie was equal parts social activist, political commentator, hobo and song-smith. A wiry man, tough as a desert lizard with a pen hand mightier than any army, Guthrie became America's conscience, the most influential lyrical force on 20th Century society and one of the most prolific songwriters who ever lived. Among his disciples are Pete Seeger, Odetta, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen; and his most revered song, This Land is Your Land, has become America's alternative national anthem. His life, books and songs have become essential inspirations to the evolution of the socially conscious movements of 20th century America. Woody battled Huntington's disease the last 11 years of his life.

A sculpture of a smiling person's face with a head covering decorated with engraved leaves and stars, set against a black background.

BESSIE SMITH (1894-1937)

Bessie Smith was born into poverty in Chattanooga. At the age of 9, upon her parents’ death, she became the bread-winner in her family. And by the 1920s, she had become the best selling blues recording artist and the highest paid African-American entertainer in the country. Her songs didn’t just address the traditional stories of searching for love and losing it; she also spoke to the misery and pain of the disenfranchised and the oppressed. For the African-American masses, she was their Voice. The Empress of the Blues died tragically in a car accident at 42.

A wooden sculpture of a smiling woman's face with her eyes partially closed, set against a black background.

MARIAN ANDERSON (1897-1993)

Marian Anderson made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1928, but with most American concert halls segregated she moved to Europe. Within two years she was regarded as the world's greatest contralto, yet she would be barred from all U.S. opera companies until the age of 58. After being prohibited from performing at Washington's segregated Constitution Hall in 1939, she riveted the country with a historic radio concert before 70,000 people on the National Mall. As a revered figure in America's struggle for equal rights, Anderson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the UN Peace Prize, Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of the Arts, and the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ancient wooden sculpture of a person's face with an open mouth, placed against a black background.

JOSH WHITE (1914-1969)

Josh White introduced African-American folk, blues and work songs to white America and the rest of the world. A star of race recordings since 1928, he crossed over to the masses in 1939 starring on Broadway. White’s Chain Gang album was the first social protest album ever released by an artist. He became the first black man to garner a million selling record and to give a White House Command Performance. In 1950, while making a landmark Goodwill tour of Europe with Eleanor Roosevelt, White was blacklisted back home for his social activism. Though battling heart disease, in 1963, as the blacklist eased, he performed on TV for President Kennedy and again at the historic March on Washington.

A man with gray hair working on a large clay sculpture of a face in a workshop.

Pete Seeger (1919 - 2014)

Coming Soon

Inside Cultural Heroes: LeQuire on Process, Inspiration, and Legacy

At the unveiling of Cultural Heroes at the Nashville Public Library, Alan LeQuire shares an in-depth look at the figures represented in the series and their impact on both culture and the Civil Rights movement. He reflects on his personal connection to these artists, the meaning behind the work, and the process of bringing the sculptures to life. The video also captures the unveiling itself and the public’s response to the installation.

Creating Presence: The Cultural Heroes Series

Alan LeQuire discusses his approach to the Cultural Heroes series, focusing on creating a living presence in the material rather than an exact likeness, and reflecting on the emotional energy of performance.

Close-up photo of a wooden sculpture of a man's profile with detailed features and textured surface.
Close-up photograph of a bronze statue depicting a person's face in profile, showing detailed facial features including closed eyes, nose, and lips.
A detailed sculpture of a man's face made from small, round stones arranged to resemble skin texture.
Close-up of a bronze or metal sculpture depicting a human face with detailed wrinkles, textured skin, and expressive eyes.
Clay sculpture of a human head in progress, with a profile view, featuring textured surface and layered construction, in an art studio.
A man with gray hair wearing a green shirt is standing at a large table that has a sheet of paper with sketches and lines on it, a yellow level, pens, and scissors. In the background, there are shelves filled with large pieces of yellow, white, and b
Art studio with unfinished wooden art pieces including a large head bust sculpture and a curved architectural model on standing tables, surrounded by wood scraps and tools.
A person carving a sculpture of a human face out of clay in a studio.
A man working on a wooden sculpture of a human head, using a measuring tool in a workshop filled with other sculptures and art pieces.
A person working on a large sculpture in an art studio, using their hands to shape the clay surface of the sculpture.
Cultural Heroes In Progress.
A man in a blue shirt working on a large wooden sculpture in a workshop filled with art sculptures, tools, and materials.
Workshop with various sculptures, busts, and figures displayed on shelves and tables, including a partially built wooden sculpture and a head bust in the foreground.
A large clay sculpture of a woman's head in profile view, positioned on a worktable in an art studio, with various art supplies and sculptures in the background.
A large wooden sculpture of a person's head is in progress, situated in an art studio with various smaller sculptures and art supplies around.
A large clay sculpture of a woman's head with closed eyes and a calm expression is in a workshop. The background includes a metal door, white brick wall, and various tools and supplies.
A large bust sculpture of a person's head made of clay is in a studio. The sculpture depicts a woman with hair styled in a bun, and a hand resting on her temple. Shelves with smaller sculptures and art supplies are visible in the background.
Inside a sculpture studio, various unfinished statues and busts are visible, with some artists working on sculptures. Overhead fluorescent lighting illuminates the workspace.
Clay sculpture heads on a wooden workbench in an art studio, with shelves and art supplies in the background.
Sculpture of a human head in progress with multiple sections, displayed on a wooden base in a workshop surrounded by tools and skeleton models.
A clay sculpture of a human head on a wooden base, with detailed facial features and markings. The sculpture is in an artist's studio surrounded by sculptures and art supplies.
A man Alan Lequire working on a wooden armature sculpture in an art studio surrounded by sculptures and art supplies.
Four men standing around a large, realistic head sculpture made of a clay-like material in an art gallery. The sculpture has detailed facial features and appears to be of an older person. The men are smiling and posing for the photo.
Alan LeQuire working on a large clay sculpture Pete Seeger in a workshop, with tools and shelves in the background.
An artist working on a large sculpture Pete Seeger of a person's head in an art studio, with tools and shelves in the background.
An artist working on a large clay sculpture of a person's head Pete Seeger in an art studio with busts and sculptures on shelves in the background.
An artist working on a large clay sculpture Pete Seeger in a studio, with sculpted heads displayed in the background.
An artist sculpting a large clay head in a studio, with smaller sculptures and busts in the background.
A bronze sculpture of a woman's face in progress in a workshop.
A rubber and plaster mold partially cut, on a worktable in a workshop.
A worker working on a rubber mold sculpture in an indoor workshop.
A man with dark hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a blue shirt underneath, is working on a large mother mold. The sculpture is standing on a similar pedestal inside a studio with various tools, buckets, and electrical panels visible in the background.
Clay busts of a young man and woman in an artist's studio, with shelves of small sculptures and art supplies in the background.
Cultural Heroes In Progress.
Close-up of a bronze statue featuring a side profile of a person's face, including eyes, nose, mouth, and chin, with a dark background. Cultural Heroes Bessie Smith
A man with light brown hair and a green shirt touching a large bronze bust of a man with a stern expression. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze sculpture of a human face in profile view showing detailed features and textured surface. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze or copper sculpture of a person's face with detailed facial features. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze bust sculpture of a woman, showing her head and shoulders, with detailed facial features and textured hair. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze or metal sculpture of a face with detailed facial features and expressive eyes. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze sculpture depicting a human face with closed eyes and serene expression. Cultural Heroes
A bronze sculpture bust of a man with short hair and a mustache, mounted on a black pedestal. Cultural Heroes
A close-up of a sculpture of a human face made from small, textured wood pieces, highlighting detailed facial features and craftsmanship.
A detailed close-up of a plaster sculpture of a human face, showing textured facial features and cracks in the plaster. Cultural Heroes
A bronze sculpture of a smiling woman's head with a headscarf decorated with embossed leaves and stars. The sculpture includes detailed facial features and is mounted on a black pedestal. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze sculpture of a human face, showing detailed features including eyes, nose, mouth, and a head covering or hair. The sculpture has a somber expression and appears to be part of a larger artwork. Cultural Heroes
Bronze sculpture of a Woody Guthry’s head with curly hair, set against a dark background. Cultural Heroes
Bronze bust sculpture of a Woody Guthry’s head with curly hair on a black pedestal against a dark background. Cultural Heroes
A close-up sculpture of a human face with textured, a serene expression. Cultural Heroes
A man polishing a large bronze sculpture of a woman’s face with a white cloth. The sculpture has detailed facial features and is wearing a headscarf with carved symbols. In the background, there is a bookshelf filled with books. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze bust sculpture of a Woody Guthries head, showcasing detailed facial features and textured hair, in a museum setting. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of a bronze sculpture of a woman's face, showing detailed carved facial features and hair against a gray background. Cultural Heroes
Close-up of three bronze bust sculptures of human faces. Cultural Heroes
Two realistic sculptures of human heads on display in a museum. Cultural Heroes
Three bust sculptures displayed on black pedestals in a gallery with hardwood floors and light-colored walls. Cultural Heroes
Three bronze busts of people exhibit front views, with the foremost bust having curly hair and detailed facial features. Cultural Heroes

Three bronze busts of people exhibit front views, with the foremost bust having curly hair and detailed facial features. Cultural Heroes

Three detailed sculptures of prominent figures, with the central bust resembling a man with a textured face, likely made of clay or similar material. Cultural Heroes

Three detailed sculptures of prominent figures, with the central bust resembling a man with a textured face, likely made of clay or similar material. Cultural Heroes

Two clay sculptures of male faces, one in the foreground with detailed features and open mouth, and the other in the background with textured skin. Cultural Heroes

Two clay sculptures of male faces, one in the foreground with detailed features and open mouth, and the other in the background with textured skin. Cultural Heroes

Three sculpted busts of people's heads displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Three sculpted busts of people's heads displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Two plaster sculptures of African American women and man, one with closely styled hair and the other with a natural hairstyle, displayed in a museum. Cultural Heroes

Two plaster sculptures of African American women and man, one with closely styled hair and the other with a natural hairstyle, displayed in a museum. Cultural Heroes

Four bronze bust sculptures of African American individuals displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Four bronze bust sculptures of African American individuals displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Four sculpted busts of diverse people's heads displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Four sculpted busts of diverse people's heads displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery. Cultural Heroes

Four bronze bust sculptures of human heads on black pedestals inside an art gallery with wood floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

Four bronze bust sculptures of human heads on black pedestals inside an art gallery with wood floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

Three bronze bust sculptures of women, displayed on black pedestals inside a gallery. The right bust is labeled 'Woody Guthrie,' depicting an older man with textured hair. Cultural Heroes

Three bronze bust sculptures of women, displayed on black pedestals inside a gallery. The right bust is labeled 'Woody Guthrie,' depicting an older man with textured hair. Cultural Heroes

Bronze bust sculptures of famous figures displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery with visitors observing. Cultural Heroes

Bronze bust sculptures of famous figures displayed on black pedestals in an art gallery with visitors observing. Cultural Heroes

Three bronze busts of diverse individuals displayed in a row, each with distinct facial features and hairstyles. Cultural Heroes

Three bronze busts of diverse individuals displayed in a row, each with distinct facial features and hairstyles. Cultural Heroes

Two men are in an art gallery surrounded by bronze bust sculptures on black pedestals, with wooden floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

Two men are in an art gallery surrounded by bronze bust sculptures on black pedestals, with wooden floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

Two men observing and discussing bronze busts of notable African American figures displayed in an art gallery with wooden floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

Two men observing and discussing bronze busts of notable African American figures displayed in an art gallery with wooden floors and white walls. Cultural Heroes

A man in a brown jacket, beige trousers, and a brown hat stands in an art gallery, observing a large bronze bust of a woman. The gallery features multiple bust sculptures on black pedestals, with a wooden floor and white walls. Cultural Heroes

A man in a brown jacket, beige trousers, and a brown hat stands in an art gallery, observing a large bronze bust of a woman. The gallery features multiple bust sculptures on black pedestals, with a wooden floor and white walls. Cultural Heroes

People viewing sculptures of African American leaders and figures in an art museum or gallery. Cultural Heroes

People viewing sculptures of African American leaders and figures in an art museum or gallery. Cultural Heroes

Two large artisan sculptures made of or similar material, one depicting a smiling woman and the other a serious face with textured features, set indoors in a studio with various art tools and sculptures in the background. Cultural Heroes

Two large artisan sculptures made of or similar material, one depicting a smiling woman and the other a serious face with textured features, set indoors in a studio with various art tools and sculptures in the background. Cultural Heroes

Two large sculpture busts on display in a studio. One is a realistic face of a woman wearing a headscarf with detailed facial features. The other is a stylized face of a person with exaggerated features, carved from clay. Cultural Heroes

Two large sculpture busts on display in a studio. One is a realistic face of a woman wearing a headscarf with detailed facial features. The other is a stylized face of a person with exaggerated features, carved from clay. Cultural Heroes

Bronze busts of a women and man with detailed features and textured hair, in an artist's studio with shelves containing sculptures and busts in the background. Cultural Heroes

Bronze busts of a women and man with detailed features and textured hair, in an artist's studio with shelves containing sculptures and busts in the background. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of a row of detailed plaster sculptures of faces from the cultural heroes series with a background of shelves and woodwork. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of a row of detailed plaster sculptures of faces from the cultural heroes series with a background of shelves and woodwork. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of multiple detailed sculptures of human faces of plaster painted different colors, arranged in a row. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of multiple detailed sculptures of human faces of plaster painted different colors, arranged in a row. Cultural Heroes

Three carved sculptures with different textures and patterns, likely representing heads or busts, displayed in an indoor museum setting. Cultural Heroes

Three carved sculptures with different textures and patterns, likely representing heads or busts, displayed in an indoor museum setting. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of detailed plaster sculptures of diverse human faces. Cultural Heroes

Close-up of detailed plaster sculptures of diverse human faces. Cultural Heroes

Multiple large sculpted busts of diverse faces arranged in a studio setting, with some sculptures in progress and busts displayed on stands in the background. Cultural Heroes

Multiple large sculpted busts of diverse faces arranged in a studio setting, with some sculptures in progress and busts displayed on stands in the background. Cultural Heroes

Several large sculptures of human heads with diverse facial features and hairstyles are displayed in an indoor art studio. Cultural Heroes

Several large sculptures of human heads with diverse facial features and hairstyles are displayed in an indoor art studio. Cultural Heroes

Tamay Ozari, Devinder and Susan Sendhu with Alan LeQuire and Woody Guthrie, LeQuire Gallery

Tamay Ozari, Devinder and Susan Sendhu with Alan LeQuire and Woody Guthrie, LeQuire Gallery

Joe Spaulding, former Director of the Boch Center and Founder of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF); LeQuire’s sculpture of Josh White; Josh White, Jr.; Josh White, III, taken at FARHOF March 2024.

Joe Spaulding, former Director of the Boch Center and Founder of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF); LeQuire’s sculpture of Josh White; Josh White, Jr.; Josh White, III, taken at FARHOF March 2024.