Stephen de Staebler

(American, 1933-2011)

Winged Woman Walking X (Winged Victory), 1996

Bronze, 112 x 49 1/2 x 20 3/4 inches

Gifted in 1996, Jane Blaffer Owen

Inspired by the 2nd-century Greek sculpture The Winged Victory of Samothrace (also known as the Nike of Samothrace), on display at the Louvre, Stephen De Staebler’s Winged Woman Walking X combines figurative representation with an air of mystery and abstraction. The woman Staebler represents is the goddess of business, politics, and academics. Winged Woman Walking X found the perfect home here at the University of Houston as a university embraces all the concepts it represents. Staebler is known for his fragmented forms often in clay or bronze and made major strides for the California Clay Movement in the 1950s. He also helped sustaining the art of figurative sculptures after WWII, as the war had left so many scars on the art world. Staebler got his degree in religious studies at Princeton University. Able to spend some time abroad, he spent close to a year traveling around Europe taking in the architecture and sculptural art. This experience shows in many of his works including Winged Woman Walking X with its deep Grecian ties. Staebler received the fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation along with many other fellows, grants, and awards. His work still shows in museums and galleries across the world.

Location

University of Houston

Moores School of Music
Exterior

Winged Woman Walking | Video

Inspired by the Nike of Samothrace, a 2nd-century BC Greek sculpture, Stephen De Staebler’s Winged Woman Walking X (1996) combines an interest in figuration and Classical mythology with post-War abstraction.