John Karl Daniels

John Karl Daniels (May 14, 1875 - March 8, 1978) was an American sculptor.[1]

John Karl Daniels was born in Norway in 1874 and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1884. He attended the Mechanics Arts High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he first received formal training for his craft as a sculptor. He was a pupil of Knut Okerberg, in Norway and of Andrew O'Connor in Paris.[2]

Earthbound by John Karl Daniels

He was based in Minnesota, where most of his work can be found. His studio was in a former icehouse located behind the old stone Van Dusen mansion at 1900 LaSalle Avenue in Minneapolis.

His granite Pioneers sculpture was given to the City of Minneapolis by the family of Charles Alfred Pillsbury during the Great Depression. It served as the centerpiece of a park near the Central Post Office in Minneapolis called Pioneer Square. His work included the Soldiers Monument in Summit Park in St. Paul.

Knute Nelson Memorial by John K. Daniels

His Minnesota State Capitol sculptures include Knute Nelson and Leif Erickson on the capital grounds as well as General John B. Sanborn and Colonel Alexander Wilkin in the rotunda. Earthbound dedicated to the veterans of Minnesota, was sculpted when Daniels was 80 years old. Other notable works includes the statue of Leif Ericsson in Leif Ericson Park in Duluth, Minnesota. He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota during 1978.[3]