The African American sculptor Jerry Harris was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. His date of birth doesn't interest him. He lived in Stockholm, Sweden for many years until the death of his wife, the Swede, Britt-Marie Olofsson-Harris.
He studied under Professor James Lee Hansen, a leading Pacific Northwest sculptor who taught at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon until his retirement. Harris was later accepted in the international sculptor's program at St. Martins School of Art, London, England.
His teachers at St. Martins were the internationally known sculptors, Sir Anthony Caro (on sabbatical at the time), and Philip King. Tim Scott and David Anneseley were also teaching, and Frank Martin was department head. "Are you happy here Mr. Harris ? "Frank asked me. I said yes," but I was absolutely unhappy there, mainly because I was into bronze, and they were into direct metal sculpture, so there was a clash.
The school made arrangements for me to do special studies in bronze casting at the Central School of Art and Design (unclassified student), London, under Henry Abercrombie, Lecturer in bronze casting, and a leading authority in this field."
Jerry Harris is primarily a constructivist sculptor, but all materials and ways of creating sculpture present a challenge for him. "I believe that a sculptor must be grounded on the planet earth," is a favorite quote from Harris's mentor, Henry Moore.
George Murphy, painter, New York-Stockholm
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