Sabin Howard visits New York Academy of Art, exhibits World War I Memorial Maquette

By Angharad Coates
New York Academy of Art Public Affairs

This past week, the New York Academy of Art exhibited the designs and model for the new National World War I Memorial, designed by Academy graduate Sabin Howard. Sabin Howard also gave a public talk on March 22nd at the Academy, discussing his design, his training as a sculptor, and winning the commission for the memorial.

Sabin HowardIn 2013, an Act of Congress created the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, and it sponsored a global design competition. In January 2016, out of 350 entries, sculptor Sabin Howard was awarded the commission to create the National World War I Memorial out of 350 entries, alongside architect Joe Weishaar.

The New York Academy of Art displayed the newly-created 10-foot scale model of the memorial, along with reference photographs by Howard of reenactors, and drawings and sketches created for the sculpture.

Howard took over 12,000 pictures of actors in authentic World War I uniforms and period costumes and developed a storyline for the memorial, ultimately creating a narrative entitled “A Soldier’s Journey.”

The final memorial, when completed in Washington, D.C. will be 65 feet long, with 38 distinct figures and multiple tableaux, and will be the largest bronze sculpture of its kind in the world. The March exhibition was among the first chances for the American public to view the models for its newest national memorial.

The 10-foot scale model going on view at the New York Academy of Art was created at the New Zealand special effects company WETA Workshop, best known for their work on the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Through the use of digital technology, WETA used Howard’s drawings as a blueprint to create three-dimensional models, which Howard then turned into fine art sculpture. This creative process represents the first usage of digitization for a national memorial of this size, and accomplished in 7 months a process that previously would have taken 3 to 4 years.

Sabin Howard is an internationally renowned figurative sculptor and draughtsman. He has participated in more than 50 group and solo shows, and his sculptures and drawings have been collected by museums and private collectors all over the world.

About his body of work, The New York Times wrote: “Sabin Howard, a sculptor of immense talent, has created some of the last decade’s most substantive realistic sculpture. When viewing his works, visitors may be reminded of the time when Donatello and Rodin walked the earth.”

Sabin is the author of The Art of Life, a photoessay about figurative art through the ages. He received his MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 1995 and has served as Visiting Critic and Adjunct Faculty at the Academy.

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