Solon Hannibal Borglum, the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum, was born in Ogden, Utah in 1868.   His bronzes reflect the beauty and vitality of the west. He died in Stamford, Connecticut in 1922.

From 1883 to 1894 Borglum worked as a ranch hand. He returned to southern California where Gutzon was studying art.  For two years Solon and Gutzon lived in the Los Angeles area where Gutzon instructed his brother. The two traveled throughout the Santa Ana range and the Sierra Madre where they were inspired by the western themes that Solon would sculpt.  His later work shows that Solon Borglum’s strength was his knowledge and understanding of the men and animals at work on the land.

Solon Borglum studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy (1895–97) with Louis Rebisso.  He arrived in Paris where he studied in Paris with Emmanuel Frémiet in 1897.   His works reflect Rodin’s impressionistic influence. While in Paris he won Salon awards for his pieces, Lassoing Wild Horse, Stampede of Wild Horses,and The Lame Horse.  Other notable works are Bucking Broncos (1898), The Bronco Buster (One in a Million) (1901), and Bucky O’Neil (1907).

Borglum exhibited seven sculptures at the Armory Show of 1913 in New York City.  He won the Croix de Guerre for his service to the French army during World War I and founded the School of American Sculpture before his death from war injuries.

Biographical information on this page was adapted from Artists of Utah.