James Wehn Collection

James Wehn portrait with model
of Chief Seattle statue.

James A. Wehn (American, 1882-1973)

The James Wehn Collection numbers close to 1,000 artworks, approximately two-thirds by Wehn himself and the remaining one-third artworks Wehn collected over his lifetime. The latter were studies and examples done by other artists, especially medallions and numismatic works. The media include works on paper (drawings and sketches); castings in bronze (both sculptures and medallions); artwork studies done in plaster (both sculptures and medallions); and a small number of sculptures done in other media (concrete, wood, clay, and stone).

Wehn has been called Seattle's "First Sculptor" for his many public and private commissioned sculptures created in the first half of the 20th century. In 1905, he built a sculpture studio in Seattle, WA where he continued to work throughout his career. He was appointed the first Head of the newly created Sculpture Department at the University of Washington in 1919, where he taught for five years. Wehn is credited with over 200 sculptural pieces, including many lifelike portraits. He focused on portraying historical figures in his work, especially Native American chiefs and other figures from the Pacific NW region (the photo shows him with a study of his Chief Seattle sculpture), Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and other historical figures, such as Captain Robert Gray, Captain George Vancouver, and female Northwest pioneer, Hannah Newman. He also created designs for official seals, including the State of Washington and the City of Seattle.

Chief among the artist's credits were his election to membership in the American Numismatic Society in 1920, and as an Officer d'Academie of Beaux Arts of France in 1936.

Additional Information:

Seattle, Chief of the Suquamish, Statue - A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary from the National Park Service.

Tilikum Place - Seattle Parks and Recreation web page about Tilikum Place, where the famous James Wehm sculpture of Chief Seattle has stood since 1912.

Tilikum Place - A PDF document posted on the Seattle Parks and Recreation website which contains a bio on James Wehn, and a hand-drawn map of the area.