Stanley J. Watts

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Stanley J. Watts

Born	1961 - Salt Lake City, Utah
Nationality	United States
Works	Lift a Nation

Stanley J. Watts is an American artist and sculptor born in 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah^[1]. Most of Watts' sculptures are done as life size bronzes.

[edit] Biography

Watts grew up in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake City. While attending Salt Lake's South High School he was already a noted artist, being recognized as a Sterling Scholar in art; the Sterling Scholar designation being one of Utah's highest academic recognitions for High school students. Watts went on to attend Utah State University in Logan, Utah, but only for one year. After returning to Salt Lake City Watts began work as an apprentice to Dr. Avard Fairbanks, and worked with him until Fairbanks died in 1987.^[2]

Watts has done many LDS-themed works, including a large bronze piece depicting Joseph and Hyrum Smith on horseback; this statue is placed directly in front of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple. One of Watts' most famous pieces is entitled "Lift a Nation", and is taken from the famous photo of New York City firefighters raising a flag over the collapsed World Trade Center site.