This series of busts depicts each of the presidents of Carleton College alongside William Carleton, whose donation gave the college its name. Noticing the absence of sculptural portraits commemorating the college’s leadership, this project emerged from Jeremy Gautama’s desire to give physical form to that lineage and to make the college’s leadership more visible through sculpture.
Gautama created each bust from stoneware clay finished with iron oxide as his final project for ARTS 234: The Figure in Clay. He completed the entire series during winter term, spending two weeks sculpting and a week firing and finishing them under the guidance of Professor of Art Kelly Connole.
Join us on Thursday, April 23, 2026 for a gallery talk with the artist, Senior Associate in Archives & Librarian Eric Hilleman, and Professor of Art Kelly Connole.
Learn more about the presidents of Carleton here.