Richard Pumphrey, professor of art at LC, was awarded a competitive commission over the summer to create a bronze portrait bust of a beloved faculty member at Hampden-Sydney College.
Pumphrey completed the bust of longtime classics professor John L. Brinkley in a record two months. That portrait, a gift to Hampden-Sydney by several of Brinkley's former students, was unveiled November 1, concurrent with the college's dedication of its new library. The main floor of the library was also named in honor of Brinkley, who taught at Hampden-Sydney for 40 years. Pumphrey attended both events.
Pumphrey has been an art professor at LC for nearly two and a half decades. He received his B.A. in art at Lynchburg College in 1974. In 1977, he earned his master of fine arts degree in sculpture from the University of Georgia. "Elements of Art," authored by Pumphrey, is a design text for college students that reflects his insights into the universal principles of two and three-dimensional design.
Pumphrey's sculpture varies in form and meaning. An impassioned designer and author on the subject, Pumphrey creates many types of sculpture, including portrait busts, woodcarvings, and religious pieces. Each work's significance is achieved through its design, scale, and use of media.