André Harvey was born in Hollywood, Florida, on October 9, 1941. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. Degree in 1963. After working both as a journalist and educator, he traveled through Europe for a year. In 1969, while in Valauris, France, Harvey worked with abstract sculptor, Michael Anasse. Upon returning to the United States, Harvey began his sculptural career first working in fiberglass and then moving on to bronze, 18-22K gold, collages, and granite. Harvey is largely self-taught.
André Harvey has been a professional sculptor since 1970. He is a Fellow and former Board Member of the National Sculpture Society in New York and also professionally associated with the International Sculpture Society in Washington, D.C. and Artist’s Equity in New York. Harvey was a recipient of the National Sculpture Society’s Joel Meissner Award and the Tallix Foundry Award.
Harvey’s sculpture is highly realistic with a concentration on animals. His sculptures are characterized by extensive research of the subject including working with biologists on location in the wild. He begins by picking subjects that truly capture his interest. During the clay sculpting stage, he often makes his own tools to mimic the texture he seeks. When the lengthy and important clay stage is over, he delivers the clay model to the foundry and then follows it through all stages, working in all the departments alongside the crafts people. By knowing the trades (welding, metal finishing, wax working, mold making, fabrication, patina, etc.) he improves the sculpture’s outcome.
Harvey’s work has been exhibited both in the United States and abroad. His work has been shown at the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts; the U.S. Information Agency Traveling Exhibit, Moscow, London, Paris; the Palazzo Mediceo, Seravessa, Italy; the National Sculpture Society, New York; the Fleischer Museum, Masterworks of American Sculpture in Scottsdale, Arizona; and Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. These are only a few selected exhibitions.
Harvey’s work can be found in many permanent public collections. Among them are the International Centre for Wildlife Art in Gloucester, U.K., Texas Energy Reserve Corporation in Humble Texas; Bank of America in Wilmington, Delaware, Crown Controls Corporation in New Bremen, Ohio, the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington, Delaware, the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, Arizona, the Greenville County Museum of Art in Greenville, South Carolina, the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, Mississippi, and Winterthur Museum, Gardens, and Library in Winterthur, Delaware.
Harvey has done commissions for the Botanic Garden Center and Conservatory in Forth Worth, Texas, the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Winterthur Museum, Gardens, and Library in Winterthur, Delaware, and the Port Charlotte Town Center in Port Charlotte, Florida. He was selected to do a commission for the Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware.
Bio from askart.com