Ralph Hurst

Ralph Hurst was a nationally acclaimed sculptor and artist who called Tallahassee home from 1952 until his passing in 2003. His piece here in the Helen Lind Sculpture Garden is titled Standing Figure and is a rare example of his work in bronze. Best known for his works in alabaster, he was often called “a poet in stone.” His works have been displayed in museums and galleries across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Madison Square Garden. Hurst was a critically acclaimed artist and was seen as a luminary in his field. He was a painter, ceramist, designer, architect, and sculptor. In 1947, Hurst began to experiment with different mediums for his sculptures, working with wood, bronze, alabaster, and marble. He gravitated towards alabaster because of its warmth, translucency, unique colors, and his ability to shape it. Hurst moved to Tallahassee and became a faculty member at Florida State University. He worked at Florida State until 1984, when he retired and pursued art full-time. Hurst and his wife, Jean, donated their personal art collection to Tallahassee State College in 2003. Today, the Ralph Hurst Art Gallery and Learning Center is located at Tallahassee State College and is open to the public.