Born in 1942 in northern Wisconsin, acclaimed sculptor Gerald Balciar's interest in art and animals was evident from a young age. He spent his formative years observing deer, ducks, and other wildlife in the woods near his home. Grounded in an in-depth knowledge of animals—his extensive library of wildlife material includes photos, magazine clippings, books, and numerous study casts—his sculptures highlight the gentle side of wildlife and evoke a sense of connection between humans and the natural world.

Balciar’s sculptures are characterized by flowing lines, rounded curves, and gentle, often playful, expressions that highlight an animal’s personality. “It is more important to show what animals feel than to show every hair and feather.” His work is also notable for utilizing negative space and possessing a strong silhouette from every angle.

Canyon King is a 1998 commission inspired by Balciar’s most well-known work, the monumental-sized Canyon Princess in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Canyon King stands nearly seven feet tall including the base, and the cougar is carved from a single block of Colorado Yule marble. The quarry, near Aspen, produced the marble for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and parts of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

Carved first with a hydraulic chain saw with a diamond-studded chain, Canyon King was refined using silica carbide grinding wheels, disks, and carbide burrs in high-speed rotary air tools. To accomplish the cougar’s smooth finish, Balciar spent countless hours hand-sanding with silica carbide wet/dry paper. The result is exquisite: brilliantly composed and executed—from the cougar’s flawless polish to the meticulously textured crag it rests upon—and sculpturally arresting from every angle.