BIO
Erik Blome is an accomplished sculptor with works that dot the nation. Erik attended the University of Michigan where he earned a B.F.A. in Fine Art. He received his M.F.A. in sculpture from Boston University. Subsequently, he received a Rotary Scholarship and did postgraduate work at the Royal College of Art in London, England, where he received a postgraduate diploma in sculpture and drawing.
Erik has taught sculpture, bronze casting, public art and drawing at several colleges and art schools, including at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Academy of Art in San Francisco, and the Royal College of Art in London. He was a visiting artist at the American University in Cairo in 2009, and an artist-in-residence at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia in January 2011 where he built a fine art bronze foundry.
In the summer of 2011, he was artist-in-residence at the City of Oak Lawn, Illinois where he had a temporary studio set-up to create a 9/11 first responders monument using large steel beams from the wreckage of the World Trade Center in New York City. Erik was a U.S. Fulbright Teaching Award Recipient for 2011-12 with affiliation at the sculpture department of Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt, and most recently a Fulbright Specialist teaching bronze casting at NIAAD in Entebbe Uganda, and KNUST in Ghana. He completed a life-size bronze sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. for the island of Bimini in the Bahamas unveiled by Prime Minister Christie in 2013. 2013-2018 he created 14 over life-size bronzes of famous hockey players for Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto, Canada, and a bronze figurative portrait of Eli Lilly, for Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis. He has done numerous stadium figures including Wayne Gretzky and Oscar De La Hoya at Staples Center, and Dale Hawerchuk for Winnipeg's arena.
See his bronze of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable featured in the Ford Explorer Ad for 2020.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a nine and one-half foot tall bronze figure for the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee which was installed on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee, WI (1998).
Children of the West End, four life-size bronze children walking on an 18 foot long, brick, serpentine wall. Commissioned by the “Spirit of Milwaukee” Foundation, Milwaukee, WI (2001).
Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial, three life-size bronze figures in a rescue scene for a monument that stands in a firefighters memorial park on the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Rapids (2004).
George Washington Carver, a life-size bronze figure sculpture of the African-American scientist and inventor for a real estate development company in Arizona (1995-1996).
Thurgood Marshall , a life-size bronze bust of the late Supreme Court Justice commissioned by the Mayor's Office of the City of Chicago for the city's newly constructed Thurgood Marshall Public Library (1995).
James Jordan, two over life-size bronze portraits of Michael Jordan's father commissioned by the Chicago Bulls for the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club on Chicago's west side (1996).
Duke Ellington , a bronze bas-relief for Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL (1999).
John Sturdivant, a larger than life-size bronze bust of the late Labor leader for the "Great Hall" in the lobby of Department of Labor in Washington D.C. (1999).
Vortex, a 12 foot diameter bronze millennium medallion with an environmental theme for Lake County Forest Preserve, Libertyville, IL (2000). Time capsule.
Chicago Blackhawks 75th Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture, six life-size bronze hockey players for Chicago's United Center, Chicago, IL (2000).
Ms. Rosa Parks , a life-size bronze figure sculpture of the civil rights icon seated on a bus seat for the Rosa Parks Museum and Library in Montgomery, AL (2000).
Peace Through Knowledge , commissioned by the class of 1951 for Rockford College in Rockford, IL. 13’ tall stainless steel and granite sculpture. Located in the Jane Adams International Peace Garden (2002).
Jack Benny, a 110% life-size bronze figure sculpture of for the City of Waukegan, IL (2002).
Wayne Gretzky "The Great One," a 125% life-size bronze sculpture for Staples Center and the Los Angeles Kings Hockey Club in Los Angeles, CA (2003).
Ms. Marie Aull , a life-size bronze figure of the Audubon Society conservationist for the Garden Club of Dayton, Ohio installed in Carillon Park, Dayton, OH (2004).
Dr. Percy Julian , an over life-size bust of the renowned African American scientist for Scofield Park in Oak Park, IL (2005). Second casting commissioned by DePauw University and placed at DePauw University at the Percy Julian Science building, Greencastle, IN (2005).
George Graziadio , a seven foot bronze likeness of major benefactor and banking icon for Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management, Malibu, CA (2004).
Harold and Helen McMaster, a double bronze bust for Defiance College in Ohio (2004).
Bolt, a 7 foot tall sculpture made entirely of 1000’s of welded stainless steel and steel bolts commissioned by Grainger Corporation and donated to the College of Lake County technical wing in Gray’s Lake, IL (2006).
Mastodon Dig , a life-size bronze sculpture of a WPA worker digging out a Mastodon Skull commissioned by the City of Aurora, IL for their new Mastodon Gallery and Visitors Center at Philips Park, Aurora, IL (2005).
Mississippi Harvest, a 28’ tall, 9000 lb. and over twice life-size bronze sculpture created for the Mississippi riverfront and commissioned by the City of Muscatine, IA (2006).
Illinois State Police History Collage, an 11 foot long bronze bas-relief, commissioned by the State of Illinois. DuQuoin Illinois State Police Headquarters, DuQuoin, IL (2006).
Peace , a 13 foot tall cast bronze and welded stainless steel sculpture (globe), commissioned by the Mt. Prospect Public Library, Mt. Prospect, IL, (2007).
African Elephant , a 2/3 life-size bronze sculpture for the front entrance to the newly constructed Embassy of the African country of Cote D'Ivoire in Washington, DC on Embassy Row near DuPont Circle (2005).
President F.H. Boigny, bronze busts of African President were created for the Ivory Coast Embassy (2005-6).
Our Lady of Medjugore, life-size bronze figure for the John Paul II Newman Center and Catholic Chapel at the University of Illinois, Chicago, IL (2008).
Heidelberg Liberal Arts , a 12’ tall conceptual sculpture of 4 cast bronze bas-relief panels with a welded bronze globe. Commissioned by Heidelberg College, Tiffen, OH (2008).
Oscar de La Hoya, an over life-size sculpture of world famous Olympic champion and professional boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya for Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA (2005-8).
Pathway to Learning , two life-size bronze schoolchildren, Deerfield, IL (2008).
Ms. Rosa Parks , a life-size bronze (second casting) of Ms. Parks seated on a bus seat for Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Rosa Parks Plaza. Downtown Dallas, TX (2009).
Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable , over life-size bronze bust of the founder of Chicago with inscribed granite base for Chicago’s Magnificent Mile (North Michigan Avenue,) Chicago, IL. Collection of the City of Chicago (2009).
The Edmonson Sisters , Heroines of the abolitionist movement. Two over life-size (10 foot tall) bronze figures emerging from a giant sculpted rock commissioned by Carr Development in cooperation with the City of Alexandria, VA. Old Town Alexandria, VA, (2010).
Charles Lisanby and Jim McKay, Hollywood Producer and Sports Announcer respectively. Two bronze bas-relief portraits for The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Hollywood, CA (2010).
Ms. Rosa Parks, a life-size bronze (third casting) of the civil rights icon seated on a bus seat for the City of Lafayette, LA (2011).
Heralds of 9/11 , two 22’ tall abstract bronze spires incorporating steel beams from the World Trade Center, Oak Lawn IL (2011).
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bust , over life-size sculpture of Dr. King for the island of Bimini in the country of the Bahamas. Unveiled by Prime Minister Christie October 2012 in Bimini’s Craft Center in front of the Bimini Museum. Site where Dr. King wrote his Nobel Prize Speech.
Roselle Veterans Memorial, 110% life-size bronze of US army soldier with Battle Cross commissioned by the City of Roselle IL (2015).
Eli Lilly . Life-size bronze sculpture of Eli Lilly, pharmaceutical company founder, for their headquarters in Indianapolis (2015-16).
Legends Row, over life-size bronze sculptures of Toronto’s hockey greats in front of the Air Canada Centre. Massive installation commissioned by the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. 14 figures total including: Syl Apps, Wendel Clark, Charlie Conacher, Turk Broda, Darryl Sittler, Johnny Bower, Mats Sundin, Borje Salming, Teeder Kennedy, Dave Keon, Tim Horton, Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, and George Armstrong. 2013-2017.
Justice Laura Cha-Yu Liu , life-size bronze sculpture of appellate
court justice for Ping Tom Park, in Chicago’s Chinatown. 2017.
John B. Stetson, 130% life-size bronze sculpture of hat-maker and founder of Stetson University for Stetson University Campus in Deland, Florida. 2018-current (August 2019 unveiling in Florida)
Dale Hawerchuk, 160% life-size bronze sculpture of Winnipeg Jets Star and Hall of Fame Inductee. Unveiled in October 2022 in front of Canada Life Arena, downtown Winnipeg.
ERIK BLOME - SCULPTOR / FIGURATIVE ART STUDIO LLC CONTACT: 925-408-3446
Woodstock, Illinois