The Sculptural Vision of Milton Horn
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Milton Horn was a Ukrainian American sculptor whose career was defined by a profound integration of form and architecture. After immigrating to the United States in 1913, he began his artistic journey through drawing and painting in 1918. His formal training included studies with sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson and at the Copley Society in Boston, followed by several years at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design. A recipient of a Tiffany Foundation Fellowship, his early work was influenced by the study of Chinese paintings and Japanese prints.
Horn’s practice spanned various materials, including terracotta, wood, stone, bronze, and clay. His monumental works often occupied public and sacred spaces, such as the Hymn to Water for the Central Water Filtration Plant of the City of Chicago and the Ark-Reredos in the Silling Chapel at the West Virginia University Medical Center. His ability to marry sculpture with architectural structures earned him a Citation of Honor from the American Institute of Architects.
Legacy and Public Works
Throughout his life, Horn contributed significant pieces to the American landscape, often through the Federal Government's Work Projects Administration. His commissions included:
In his later years, Horn moved to Chicago, where he continued to create works such as the large plant form titled Rhubarb. His artistic legacy is preserved through the Milton Horn Fine Art Trust and the Milton and Estelle Horn Fine Art Study Collection at West Virginia University.
