Ernest Shelton 2

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Ernest Shelton
Lucille Ball
1991

Project Area: North Hollywood
Project: The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Project Location: 5200 Lankershim Boulevard
Project Type: Developer

Description:

Life-size bronze statue of comedian Lucille Ball is seated on the top tier of a circular five-tiered base with a top dome located in the plaza at the entrance to the Academy. Legs crossed, head tilted back, Ball purses her lips and extends her right arm with palm open, as if blowing a kiss across the surrounding plaza to a replica of an Emmy award perched high atop an adjacent fountain. She is dressed in a 1950s style costume consisting of a fancy blouse with full sleeves and a pleated front, a tight vest with a belt, pedal pushers and flats.

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Artist Profile

Ernest Shelton received his BFA in Design and MFA in Sculpture from the University of Southern California. Interestingly, Shelton was also an avid athlete winning a number of National High Jump competitions as well as becoming the World High Jump Champion in 1955. Shelton’s artistic career began in 1959 as a freelance sculptor and shortly thereafter discovered a lucrative career in the movie entertainment industry. In 1979, Shelton went to work for Walt Disney Productions and Enterprises where he remained for the next decade. During this time, the artist also accepted special effects commissions from Rob Bottin Productions for Regency Films of London movies Legend and Robocop. Shelton is also credited as Production Designer of Master Blaster, Film Designer of Midnight Rider, with additional film work for Universal Studios, All Effects, Apogee, Sequoia, and Warner Brothers. Shelton lives in Cambria, California.