Steven Whyte


Steven Whyte is a sculptor classically trained in the traditional methodology of figurative bronze and portrait sculpture living in Carmel, California. He has produced many public memorials and installations in both England and throughout the United States with subjects ranging from miners, to soldiers and fire fighters. He is credited with over fifty life size and larger bronze public figures and major monuments including The Silverdale Mining Memorial, The Lance Sergeant Jack Baskeyfield VC Tribute, The Spirit of 1948, and The Dr. John Roberts Monument. Whyte's multimillion-dollar, sixteen-figure monument in San Diego, California entitled National Salute to Bob Hope and the Militaryis one of his most notable works.
In 2010, Whyte unveiled a twice life size portrait monument of the 1957 Heisman Trophy Winner, John David Crow at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and a life size full relief statue of St. Anthony and Child at Basilica of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
Whyte's work also includes four life size figures for a memorial to the fallen officers of the San Diego Sheriff's Department which was unveiled in May 2011. He also completed a nine figure composition for Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, and a life size Jumbo the Elephant for Tufts University, MA. One of Whyte's most complex works, the massive statue for Texas A&M University titled The Aggie War Hymn Monument, has twelve 1.6 times life size bronze figures of students, "sawing off variety's horns". The 10 ft by 39 ft sculpture was unveiled in September 2014, at a cost of $1.7M.
In 2016 Whyte was awarded Sports Artist of the Year, sculptor, by The United States Sports Academy and The American Sport Art Museum & Archives.
In December 2016 The Smithsonian Institution acquired Whyte's bronze bust of Congressman John Conyers Jr. for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C..
Whyte was the sculptor for the Column of Strength, San Francisco's controversial Comfort Women Memorial.

Biography

The son of Campbell MacNaughton Whyte and Janice Whyte, Steven Whyte was born 17 March 1969 in Amesbury, United Kingdom and grew up in various parts of Europe including Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and the Shetland Isles.
Whyte, a dyslexic, has been described as first using art as a social solution, rather than a potential vocation: "Art class was often the only place I felt confident that I could contribute and learn at the same rate as my peers.” Whyte's first art courses were drawing and graphic design, but it was not until high school that he began learning ceramics and sculpture. As an undergraduate, he was granted a full scholarship and became the youngest applicant accepted to the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture, under the late Professor Colin Melbourne ARCA and Dame Elisabeth Frink RA.
After leaving school, Whyte co-wrote the only validated figurative sculpture course in England and accepted a teaching position at Stafford College. He then became the youngest member of the London-based Society of Portrait Sculptors, where he served as Vice-President alongside President Franta Belsky PPRBS, late sculptor to the Royal Family. Whyte's early career consisted primarily of private commissions and portrait work, with over 70 completed commissioned official portraits to date.
In 2003, Whyte opened his first US open studio and gallery on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. In 2007, the Steven Whyte Sculpture Studio and Gallery moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where it is currently open to the public every day.

Artistic style

The human form is Whyte's preferred subject, and he typically works with live models whenever possible. His sculptures are ultimately cast in bronze, but they begin as clay.
Steven Whyte describes himself as a "sculptor of people" and although his pieces are reminiscent of classical figures, Whyte chooses to put importance on "the emotional quality and impact of the sculpture" more than the adherence to traditional technique. Whyte intends for his work to have "narrative and tangible personality".
Whyte currently works in a studio that is open to the public. The interaction and response has become a part of his work. “There's a constant energy. It's like when a film actor does theater and suddenly there's no distance between his work and the audience, the response is both immediate and honest.”

Public Commissions

• Congressman John J. Conyers, Jr. Life size bust of the US Representative for Michigan's 13th congressional district. Member of Congress since 1965 and is currently its dean. Washington D.C. 2017.
• Jumbo the Elephant. Life-size African elephant monument for Tufts University's mascot. Tufts University, Medford, MA. 2014.
• Aggie War Hymn Monument. Twelve 1.6 times life-size figures on a 40' x 4' base. Representing Aggie students standing side-by-side during a traditional “sawing off Varsity's horns” cheer. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2014.
• A National Monument to John Steinbeck and Cannery Row. Nine slightly over life-size figures on a 17' x 20' x 16' stone formation. Author John Steinbeck and eight characters from his novel Cannery Row. Cannery Row, Monterey, CA. 2014.
• Senator William T. Moore. Life size half figure bust of Senator Moore for Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. 2013.
• Tribute to Fallen Deputies. Four life-size figures in tribute to fallen officers and their families. San Diego Sheriffs Deputies Association, San Diego, CA. 2011.
• John David Crow. Twice life -size portrait action figure of 1957 Heisman Trophy Winner John David Crow for Texas A&M. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. 2010.
• St. Anthony of Padua. Life-size full depth relief of St. Anthony and Child. Carmel Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Carmel, CA. 2009.
• Dream Speech Bust. 1.5 times life-size portrait bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. displayed above a plaque containing his “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety. City of Hollywood, FL. 2008.
• Column of Knowledge. 1.5 times life-size portrait bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. perched on a stack of books that had influenced his life and work. City of Fontana, CA. 2008.
• A National Tribute to Bob Hope and the Military. Eight life-size figures representing various eras of service men, women and veterans. San Diego Port Authority, San Diego, CA. 2008.
• Dr. John L. D. Roberts Monument. Life size statue of the founder of Seaside, California. Citizens Committee, City of Seaside, CA. 2004.
• David and Lucile Packard Relief and chairs the Board of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Relief Portrait plaque, 16” x 16”, bronze. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California. 2003.
• Spirit of 1948. Three life-size figures in cast stone as a tribute to the Staffordshire Fire Service. Staffordshire, England. 1998.
• Holden Lane High School Relief. Project with local high school to create 21' x 7' brick relief. Burslem, England. 1998.
• Mier Portal. 36' x 14' brick relief for interstate tunnel portal. Mier, England. 1997.
• The Lance Sergeant Jack Baskeyfield VC Tribute. Twice life size full memorial figure of the Victoria Cross winner, and the only monument to a non-commissioned soldier in Britain. Hanley, England. 1996.
• The Silverdale Mining Memorial. 1.5 times life-size miner, pushing mining tub with eleven bronze plaques including four life size portrait reliefs. Newcastle-under-Lyme, England. 1996.
• Tribute to Reginald Mitchell. 1.25 times life-size full memorial figure to the aeronautical designer of the Spitfire aircraft. Staffordshire, England. 1991
• Destiny. Queen's Moat Hotel Group. Staffordshire, England. 1991.
• Bust of May Walley. Victoria Hall, Hanley. Staffordshire, England. 1990.
• President Jimmy Carter. Three times life-size bust of President Carter for Carter Center, Presidential Library. Atlanta, GA. 2019.
• Chief Justice Earl Warren. Three-times life-size portrait bust on 15 ft sculpted column. California Memorial Masonic Temple. San Francisco, CA. 2019.
• Comfort Women's Circle of Strength. Four life-size figures of WWII Comfort Women, interactive and inclusive of today's movements for the protection of women. Seoul, South Korea. 2019.
• Don Biddle Memorial. Life-size bust of Councilman Don Biddle for Don Biddle Community Park. Dublin, CA. 2019.
• Dublin Veterans Memorial. Four 1.5 times life-size military figures and plaza. Crossing Park, Dublin, CA. 2019.
• General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. A life-size figure of United States Air Force general and commander of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. United States Military Academy at West Point. 2018.

Religious Work

• Five Saints. Five half life-size figures sculpted for niches in the Cloisters on the Platte chapel. Omaha, NE. 2019.
• Stewart Morris, Sr. A life-size figure of one of Houston Baptist University's founding fathers. Houston Baptist University, Houston, TX. 2017.
• Saint Mary and Saint Joseph. Life-size figures of Mary and Joseph. Cloisters on the Platte, Omaha, NE. 2018.
• Mary and Joseph. 7 ft figure of Mary and 8 ft figure of Joseph. Cloisters on the Platte, Omaha, NE. 2018.

Titled Portrait Works from life

UK Busts and Figures 1989-2000
Shami Ahmad - Chairman, Pinwise PLC
Lord Alexander - Chairman, National Westminster Bank PLC
Heather Angel RSP - Photographer, author
Viscount Blakenham - Chairman, Pearson PLC
James Bowman - Counter Tenor, English National Opera
Arthur Chollerton CBE - Chairman, Staffordshire County Council
Mrs. Hilda Clarke - Director, St. Modwen PLC
Sir Stanley W. Clarke - Chairman, St. Modwen PLC
The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke M.P. - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Peter Cropper - Leader, The Lindsey String Quartet
Peter Cheeseman - Director, The New Victoria Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme
Counsellor Alan Edwards - Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent
Professor Brian Fender CMG - Vice-Chancellor, Keele University
Mark Fisher MP - Junior Minister of the Arts
Lord Forte - President, Forte PLC
Richard Giordano KBE - Chairman, British Gas PLC
Sir John Harvey-Jones - Industrialist, author, Retired chairman ICI PLC
Edgar Haber - President, Quail Lodge Resort, Carmel, CA
Dr. James Heron MB FRCP - Chairman, The Institute of Neurologists
Freddie Jones - Actor RSC
Dr. Stephen Lock - Editor, The British Medical Journal
Patrick Moore OBE - Astronomer, author
Jackie Mudie - Scottish International Soccer Player
Lord Palumbo - Chairman, The Arts Council of Great Britain
Rupert Pennent-Rea - Deputy chairman, The Bank of England
Trevor Pinnock ARMC - Director, The English Concert Orchestra
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild - Chairman, Rothschild Bank
John Rudge - Manager, Port Vale Football Club
Sir Colin Southgate - Chairman, Thorne EMI PLC
The Earl of Stockton - President, Macmillan Publishers Ltd
Neal Smith - CEO, The Golf Group Inc.
Lord Sterling - Chairman, P&O PLC
The Rt. Rev. Keith Sutton - Lord Bishop of Litchfield
Lord Tombs - Retired chairman, Rolls Royce Aero PLC
May Walley MBE - Director, The Bedford Singers
Lord Weathrill MP - Speaker, The House of Commons
The Duke of Westminster - President, Grosvenor International Holdings
Lord Young - Chairman, Cable and Wireless PLC
USA Busts and Figures 1989-2000
Ted Balestreri - Chairman & CEO, Cannery Row Company
Mike Beasley - Venture Partner of Nobska Ventures. Chairman, Rocket Software
Congressman John J Conyers - US Representative, Dean of the House of Representatives
Herman "Herm" Edwards Jr. - American football analyst for ESPN and former NFL player and coach
Gustavo M. de la Garza Ortega - Founder and chairman, Marcatel Com
Edgar H. Haber - Founder of Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club
Secretary Leon Panetta - Director, CIA. US Secretary of Defense
Sylvia Panetta - Director, Panetta Institute
Sam Linder - President, Sam Linder Auto Group
Burt Mendlesohn - Consultant
George Tanimura - Co-founder, Tanimura & Antle

Achievements