GEORGE SEGAL

He created three sculptural ensembles appearing in gallery Room Two of the FDR Memorial. They depict the era of The Great Depression. The pieces are entitled "The Fireside Chat," "The Rural Couple," and "The Breadline."

As an art student during the late 1940's, Segal was trained by leading abstractionists of the day. He first came to public attention during the late 1960's with his life-sized figures set among ordinary objects. Today, with a renowned and celebrated body of work, he has become better known for his bronzes that are sought for major museums, collections, and public spaces.

His work is best known for subject matter that depicts and memorializes the common man and everyday occurrences. His method of sculpting provides him with pliant, hollow forms that serve as the basic structure for his compositions.

Mr. Segal's work then seeks to illuminate philosophical and/or psychological truths about these naturalistic figures, their actions, and their times. Through simple, subtle gestures, and specific environments, he is able to communicate multiple levels of meaning.

Considered to be among the finest and most innovative of his generation, George Segal's work has received numerous accolades. Mr. Segal has had retrospective exhibitions mounted in major museums throughout the world and is the subject of a PBS documentary and several books.

George Segal was born in New York City in 1924.