1956 –
Dan Ostermiller was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1956, the son of a famed taxidermist. He decided early in his life to forego working in the family business for a more flexible form of self-expression. However, the experience he had gained under his father’s tutelage influenced Ostermiller’s career and was ultimately responsible for his interest in becoming a sculptor of animals as well as for his complete understanding of animal form. Ostermiller was working with clay at an early age. As a teenager, he became his father’s assistant and learned the basic skills of making an animal look life-like, from facial expressions to body language. Breaking away from taxidermy because he wanted to be more creative, Ostermiller spent time in Texas as a hunting guide, and worked on sculpting, moving to Loveland, Colorado to be close to foundries.
In 2003, he became president of the National Sculpture Society. His sculpture has won numerous awards and honors such as the Gold Medal of Honor from Allied Artists of America, Gold and Silver Medals from Texas Cowboy Artists Association, and the Gold Medal of Honor from American Artists Professional League. His monumental works may be viewed at the Wyoming State Capitol, Brookgreen Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Stark Museum of Art.