Brutus with his bronze counterpart.
Brutus Buckeye has been an iconic image for The Ohio State University since the mascot’s creation in the mid 1960’s. Those who visit the Ohio Union will find a bronze Brutus statue saving a seat for them on the ground floor. You can constantly find students, staff and guests having their picture taken with the Brutus statue.
While he is one of the most photographed pieces on campus, many people don’t know the origin of this work of art. The artist is Renate Burgyan-Fackler, a graduate of The Ohio State University. She was asked to create a statue of Brutus for the new Ohio Union and took eight months to make the statue out of clay, and then cast a wax mold. That mold was sent to Coopermill Bronzeworks in Zanesville to make the final cast. They created twenty different pieces that were then welded together to make the final product and installed prior to the building’s opening in 2010. To learn more about the artist or foundry, visit: http://www.alancottrill.com/coopermill.html and https://chrysalissculpturestudio.com/.
What we see today is an important part of the Buckeye experience. Families and friends come from all over the world, and all wish to have their picture taken with the one and only Bronze Brutus. Made by Buckeyes for Buckeyes, this iconic landmark will stand, or rather sit, for years to come for all to enjoy. Please share your favorite picture with Bronze Brutus in the comment section.
Detail of the clay version before being set in bronze.
Renate Burgyan-Fackler and her creation.
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