Gwen Gillen

Gwendolyn "Gwen" Gillen (1941–2017) was an American sculptor known for public works that capture personality and movement. Originally trained as an actress at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she brought a theatrical sensibility to her sculptures, emphasizing emotional connection over static poses. Working from her studio in Hustisford, Wisconsin, Gillen created beloved public monuments including the Gertie the Duck sculpture on Milwaukee's Wisconsin Avenue bridge, life-size figures of Father Joseph Kentenich for Schoenstatt chapels worldwide, and the Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial. Her most iconic work—the life-size bronze of Mary Tyler Moore tossing her hat on Minneapolis's Nicollet Mall—has become a symbol of the city itself.