Lynn Wolfe

LYNN WOLFE (1917 - ): Lynn Wolfe is an American artist, sculptor, and educator known for his versatility across painting, sculpture, stained glass, and mosaics. Born in 1917, he grew up on his family's dairy farm near Red Cloud, Nebraska, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine art from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1940. After serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, he pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied painting and sculpture and developed an interest in anthropology and archaeology. Wolfe joined the university's faculty and taught for thirty-six years, eventually serving as chairman of the art department. His artistic practice spans both representational and abstract styles, with works ranging from landscapes and still lifes to modernist sculptures made from bronze, clay, iron, and other materials. He also created stained glass windows, mosaics, and sculptural commissions for churches, chapels, banks, and public institutions throughout Colorado. Influenced by modernist artists including Max Beckmann and Ossip Zadkine, Wolfe explored expressive forms, geometric compositions, and bold color across a variety of media. Beyond his studio practice and teaching, he played an active role in community arts and conservation, helping establish the Boulder Open Space Project, which became PLAN-Boulder County. His long career reflects a commitment to artistic experimentation, education, public art, and the cultural life of Colorado.