Jamie Lester – Bronze Sculptor

306 Bull Run Ave.
Morgantown, WV 26505
[email protected]
304.276.4846

P  E R  S O N  A L

Jamie Lester lives in Morgantown, WV. Lester was born on September 7th, 1974 in Oceana, West Virginia, a small mining town in Wyoming County. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1997, with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, he formed Lester Sculpture, specializing in bronze monument sculpture and fine artwork.  In 2012 Lester created Vandalia Bronze LLC., further expanding his art team.

In 2004, Lester designed the obverse side of the West Virginia State Commemorative Quarter, depicting a panoramic view of the New River Gorge Bridge.   

E  D U  C A T  I O N

Bachelor of Fine Arts
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506
Area of Study: Sculpture

E  X P  E R I  E N C E

Lester’s award-winning bronze sculpture has shown in galleries in West Virginia, Maryland, and The Society of Fine Arts and Crafts in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the National Sculpture Society.

His experience in the monumental bronze industry is specialized in portraiture and figurative sculpture. Since 1997, Jamie has sculpted thousands of bas-relief portraits and has completed a multitude of large scale bronze statues. His bronze figures possess a dynamic sensitivity with exquisite detail.

Jamie spent 5 weeks studying figurative sculpture in Jingdezhen, Xian, and Beijing, China in 2011, while teaching as a guest artist at Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute. In 2015 Jamie completed a two-week course of study in Rome, Italy, focusing on the figurative sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.  

The Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance at Keyspan Park on Coney Island is one of the most well-known and widely viewed works produced by Jamie Lester. The six-foot tall figures were commissioned in 2002 to commemorate the 105 firefighters from Brooklyn who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Lester has completed over 30+ statues for the Boy scouts of America.

C  O L  L E C  T O R S   &   C O M M  I S S I O N S

Love | Hope – This piece combines the words LOVE and HOPE in a cubic formation. This abstract piece can be rotated manually. Dimensions are 60″ X 60″, fabricated stainless steel. This piece was commissioned by and is part of John Harkey’s private collection. The sculpture was installed in 2019.

Dave Alexander Statue – A larger than life sculpture of inspirational triathlete, Dave Alexander. He is an exceptional competitor who has competed in over 300 international ultra triathlons. One beauty of this piece was the balance of Dave’s ironman build on a small framed bike. A favorite aspect of this piece is the strength and intensity of Alexander’s posture. An interesting aspect of the sculpture is the hidden text along the edge of the wheel. This 8-foot bronze statue was commissioned by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled in June of 2018.

The West Virginia Department of Highways Fallen Worker Memorial – This 11-foot tall bronze statue was created in 2017 and was unveiled at its location in Williamstown, WV on October 24, 2017.

The Milan Puskar Statue – This life-size bronze statue of Mylan Pharmaceuticals features an 8-foot tall stainless steel mirrored WVU logo. It was dedicated in September 2017 in memory of Milan Puskar.

The Oak Hill K-9 Memorial – This larger than life bronze German shepherd statue will be dedicated in the Oak Hill K-9 Memorial in Oak Hill, WV in November 2017.

The Gene Yamagata Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Christine Perry Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Joe Crafton Jr. Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Brownsea Island Monument – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Joe Crafton Sr. Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The John Harkey Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Stephen Marriott Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The T. Michael Goodrich Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Rex Tillerson Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Bill Marriott Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commission by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled during the 2017 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia.

The Don Knotts Statue – This life-size bronze statue was commissioned by the City of Morgantown and unveiled on July 23, 2016. Jamie Lester worked with the Don Knotts family to create the design for the statue, depicting the brilliant comedic actor in his prime. Don Knotts is posed seated with a police cap in one hand to symbolize his most famous character, Barney Fife and a film script in the other hand with the inscription “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” in homage to his film career.

The Colonel Zackquill Morgan Statue – This life-size bronze statue was commissioned by the City of Morgantown and unveiled on June 20, 2016.

The Hot Rod Hundley Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue of the legendary basketball announcer was unveiled on February 20, 2016. In this monument, Hundley is making his famous hook-shot towards the basket.

The Brett Harvey Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue of CONSOL Energy CEO was unveiled in June of 2016.

Jared & Sam Harvey Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue of Brett and Carol Harvey’s sons, Jared and Sam, was unveiled in June of 2016 in memory of Jared Harvey. The two brothers are posed in a mountain biking scene. Jared, the older brother, points the way while Sam shields his eyes to see better. The sculptural base indicates that their paths diverge, telling the story of Jared’s untimely passing.

The John D. Tickle Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue of Strongwell Corporation CEO was unveiled in June of 2016.

The Gregory Augustine Statue – This 13-foot bronze statue in memory of Gregory Augustine, son of Norman Augustine of Lockheed Martin. It was unveiled in June of 2016. Gregory died at a young age. His patches and insignia on his uniform match those of his actual uniform and Eagle Scout sash. The soaring eagle symbolizes his timeless spirit and reinforces the sculpture’s title, “Forever Eagle”.

Ed and Jeannie Arnold Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commissioned by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled in June of 2015

John C. Cushman Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commissioned by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled in June of 2015

Craig Fenneman Statue – This 8-foot bronze statue was commissioned by the Boy Scouts of America and was unveiled in June of 2015

Lonnie Poole Jr. Statue – The 8-foot bronze sculpture of Lonnie Poole Jr. was unveiled at the Summit, the permanent site of the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree in 2013. Another casting of this sculpture is in the permanent collection of North Carolina State University.

Sean Stein – This project was commissioned by Florida Atlantic University in April of 2011 and is in progress. The 8-foot high bronze sculpture of Sean Stein has been installed in the courtyard of FAU in West Palm Beach, Florida in November of 2012.

Jack Fleming “An Artist With Words” – This life-size half figure of “The Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers” was commissioned by John and Anita Fleming in 2009.  The project is in the finishing stages and will be installed at the WVU Alumni Center in February of 2011.

George Steinbrenner – The 55” high portrait of “The Boss” is the largest portrait in Yankee Monument Park. Jamie sculpted it in August of 2010 and it was unveiled September 20th.  

Father Nelson Baker – This life-sized statue of Father Baker was installed at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna, NY.  It was unveiled in August of 2010.

Jerry West – Jamie Lester was awarded the commission for the larger than life bronze statue of Basketball great Jerry West in April 2006. The bronze sculpture was installed at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, WV and unveiled in February of 2007.  

World Golf Hall of Fame – In 2004, The World Golf Village in St. Augustine FL commissioned 104 life-sized portraits for the World Golf Hall of Fame, including Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam, and  Bob Hope, among many others. I have sculpted the inductees for the Hall of Fame every year since then, including over 60 inductees.

Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance – Keyspan Park on Coney Island – The monument features two life-size depictions of New York firefighters cast in bronze.  The six-foot tall figures were commissioned in 2002 to commemorate the 105 firefighters from Brooklyn who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001

C  O L  L E C  T O R S     & C O M M  I S S I O N S    C O N T.

North Carolina State University

West Virginia University

Florida Atlantic University

Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, in Jingdezhen, China

Boy Scouts of America in Irving, Texas.

David Dickirson Gallery in Beckley, WV

The Cooper Gallery in Lewisburg, WV

The YART Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland

The Society of Arts and Crafts Gallery in Boston, Massachusetts.

A  W A  R D S

Design of the West Virginia State Commemorative Quarter, 2005, Lester’s design featuring the New River Gorge Bridge graces the obverse side of the U.S. WV quarter.

WV Arts and Crafts Guild Exhibition, 2008, Best in Show

The Figure Exhibition Benedum Gallery, 2015, Morgantown, WV, Best in Show

Professional Development Grant, 2016, West Virginia Division of Culture and History

Morgantown Arts Center Exhibition, 2017, Best in Show

Re|Create Grant, 2019, Friends of the Cheat River – Reclamation Project

E  X H  I B I  T I O N  S

1998- Art and Craft Guild – Best of Show- Wheeling, WV

1999- Vessels – The Society of Fine Arts and Crafts- Boston, MA

2004- Surrealism- David Dickerson Gallery- Beckley, WV

2005- New Work- Zenclay Gallery- Morgantown, WV

2007- Through the Looking Glass- David Dickerson Gallery- Beckley, WV

2008- Retrospective – Benedum Gallery – Morgantown, WV

2009- West Virginia Roots- David Dickerson Gallery- Tamarack- Beckley, WV

2012- Upon A Thousand Wings- Zenclay Gallery- Morgantown, WV

2013- Birdsong- Judy Spade Gallery- Morgantown, WV

2014- Urban Flow- David Dickerson Gallery- Tamarack- Beckley, WV