James Nathan Muir (born 1945)
James Muir has built upon his fame as America’s foremost historical military sculptor to create an ever-expanding array of artistic commentary on the human social, political, and spiritual condition to exemplify the highest qualities of man.
Unlike many artists, James Nathan Muir, came to his vocation relatively late in life, in a manner which seems to have been a series of fated coincidences. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, his early interest in history and the military was reinforced by his experiences as a West Point cadet and to which he also attributes the cementing of his personal “Code of Honor.” Having received a business degree from Indiana University, Muir’s ever deeper involvement with horses, and his continuing quest for spiritual Truth, finally led him to leave Indiana in 1979 for the freedom and inspiration of the great American West.
After working at ranches in Texas and Arizona, he settled in Sedona, Arizona and there embarked on a meteoric career in sculpting, specializing in Cavalry subjects of the American Frontier and Civil War.
His meticulous attention to detail, coupled with an insightful grasp of the human experience resulted in exquisitely crafted and poignant bronzes. As he quickly gained the acclaim of collectors around the country, as well as induction into the prestigious Society of American Historical Artists (SAHA), Muir’s work resides in the U.S. Cavalry Museum at Fort Riley, the Gettysburg Battlefield Museum, and the Atlanta Historical Society. After expanding his subject matter in 1990 to include today’s contemporary issues, many of these sculptures can be found in prominent institutions and museums – such as St. Louis University, City of Loveland Park, Southern California Christian College, Paul Harvey News Broadcasting Headquarters, and some of the most prominent private collections in America.
In keeping with his deep spiritual convictions and social consciousness, Muir’s sculptural subjects have expanded to reflect the critical nature of the times in which we live. Yet, whether historical or contemporary, “the golden thread that ties it all together is still my never-ending quest for the essence of life for Truth in its purest form.”