Bennett Studio has completed over 60 commissioned art pieces for public art installations, public parks, universities, city institutions, and everything in between. Custom public artwork has ranged from relief sculptures to bronze statues and busts and more.
The "Clinton Streetscape Project" features a captivating collection of eight over-life-size bronze sculptures representing Mississippi wildlife, elegantly mounted on uniquely shaped stone fountains. Installed in 2003 along Downtown 5th Avenue in Clinton, Iowa, each fountain measures 3 feet by 6 feet in diameter and serves as a stunning focal point...
The “George Soumas Memorial,” unveiled in 2002, is a life-sized bronze sculpture of George Soumas, a prominent figure in the Perry, Iowa community. Soumas, the son of Greek immigrants, was a World War II hero, mayor, judge, county attorney, storyteller, and friend. He grew up playing in the alley behind...
The “Reflective Tribute,” unveiled in 2001, is a veterans memorial dedicated to Upper Iowa University students who served in the Second World War. The memorial features a life-size bronze statue of Navy Ensign James Beneke, a UIU student who was killed in the war. A bronze relief sculpture of Beneke...
“Stepping Stones,” unveiled in 2001, is a public art installation located on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa. The plaza features a 24-foot diameter fountain with over-life-size bronze figure torsos, one of which holds out an electric guitar. The fountain is surrounded by a 12-foot...
The “Nancy Neafie Memorial” is a life-size bronze sculpture located in Nancy Neafie Park in downtown Burlington, Iowa. This sculpture was commissioned by the City of Burlington in 2000 and is named after the city's first female mayor. The sculpture is not a likeness of Neafie. It depicts a female...
This 15-foot-tall bronze sculpture is the centerpiece of a memorial dedicated to military chaplains. It's located within a landscaped outdoor chapel measuring 185 feet by 90 feet, commissioned by the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa in 1994. The sculpture features a large pair of cupped hands, supported by...
This memorial, located in Arthur W. Anderson Peace Park in Loves Park, Illinois, was conceived by Mr. Anderson to honor veterans who served in the five major wars of the 20th century. The Field of Honor features eight life-size bronze statues of military figures representing various eras and branches of...
This charming bronze sculpture, commissioned in 1997 by the City Improvement Association in Charles City, Iowa, depicts a young boy on a tricycle, enthusiastically hauling fishing gear in a wagon while racing his terrier dog. The boy's equipment includes a fishing rod and reel, a can of worms, and a...
This poignant bronze sculpture, designed by Donna Young and enlarged by Chris Bennett, was commissioned by Trinity Hospital in Rock Island, Illinois in 1997, and depicts a family experiencing a moment of comfort and care. The sculpture features three life-size bronze figures: a kneeling mother and father consoling their daughter,...
"My Move," a life-size bronze statue of George Daily, was unveiled in 1997 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in front of the George Daily Civic Center. The sculpture captures George Daily as he was often seen in life: seated on a park bench, playing checkers in the public square. Measuring six feet...
Unveiled in 1999, this life-size plaster sculpture, commissioned by the Maternity Ward of Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, beautifully captures the essence of motherhood. The sculpture depicts a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy, classically rendered with graceful detail. Smiling gently, she holds her belly with both...
"Leapfrog," a life-size bronze sculpture, was commissioned by the FAA and gifted to the city of Fairfield. Installed on the lawn of the Carnegie Museum Building, the piece captures the joyful energy of three children engaged in a game of leapfrog. One boy leans forward with his hands on his...
"A Grandmother’s Garden," dedicated in 1988, features two life-size bronze figures—a child and her grandmother—capturing a tender moment of connection and shared wisdom. The statues are situated in a beautifully landscaped garden space on the front lawn of the Warren County Administration Building in Indianola, Iowa. The child stands with...
The Jack Trice Memorial Statue, located just north of Beardshear Hall at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, stands as a powerful tribute to the university's first African American athlete and the ideals of perseverance and integrity he embodied. Created in 1988, the 78-inch tall bronze statue was funded through...
"Dancers," a life-size plaster sculpture unveiled in 1983 at Ottumwa Regional Medical Center in Ottumwa, Iowa, beautifully captures the fluidity and grace of movement. The piece depicts two figures wearing tights, a young man and woman, frozen in the midst of a dance. The man’s hand gently rests on the...
"William Coop and Friend," a life-size bronze sculpture, was unveiled in 1981 in Central Park, Fairfield, Iowa, as a tribute to the first pioneer settler born in Jefferson County, William Henry Coop. The sculpture depicts Coop, seated alongside a young boy, symbolizing the connection between the past and present. The...
"Lil' Slugger," a life-size cold-cast bronze bust, was unveiled in 2001 at the Office of the Governor in the Iowa State Capitol, Des Moines. The sculpture depicts a young boy wearing a baseball cap, capturing the innocence and enthusiasm of youth. The boy’s expression is focused and determined, embodying the...
