Elmer Petersen, Date of Birth, Place of Birth

Elmer Petersen

American sculptor of metal

Date of Birth: 06-Sep-1928

Place of Birth: Racine, Wisconsin, United States

Profession: sculptor

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Elmer Paul 'Pete' Petersen (born September 4, 1928) is an American sculptor who works in metal.
His most prominent artwork is the World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, North Dakota.
Petersen lives and works in Galesville, Wisconsin.
Much of his art is publicly displayed around La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he led the Downtown La Crosse Sculpture Project Committee.
The La Crosse Tribune called Petersen "one of the premiere sculptors in the Coulee Region" and "instrumental in getting public sculpture scattered throughout downtown" La Crosse.
He has worked significantly with welding, including that of found metal objects, and often sculpts in cast bronze. At Dana College, Petersen was drafted in the middle of his education, then returned on the GI Bill for graduate work in art at the University of Wisconsin.
Early in his career, Petersen worked (and taught/Texas Lutheran University) in Texas before returning to Wisconsin in 1978 and opening a studio. Petersen received thirteen awards out of 23 juried shows.
In 2007, he displayed a collection at The Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa.
Roger D.
Roslansky, Chair of Board, HSR Associates (engineering/architecture) of La Crosse, notes that Petersen is "an invaluable resource and an extremely creative artist," "a sculptor of significant note!"