Pyramid Hill adds new sculpture by artist Deborah Butterfield

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum has added Deborah Butterfield’s “Halfmoon Lake” to its growing collection of monumental contemporary sculptures.

Known for her horse sculptures, Butterfield’s works can be found at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Cincinnati Museum of Art. But having her work displayed outdoors surrounded by nature is unique to Pyramid Hill.

The nearly 8-foot-tall piece, completed in 2008, showcases Butterfield’s trademark use of found materials. It’s created out of bronze but it’s made to look like found driftwood. The name “Halfmoon Lake” is an homage to a serene lake near Glacier National Park in Montana.

Butterfield believes the piece’s new home in Hamilton will allow it to “come to new life amidst the beautiful natural setting.”

Nanci Lanni and Barbara Wilks purchased the sculpture through the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation with the Pyramid Hill site in mind, Lanni said. She described Butterfield’s horse project as “an emotional presence which connects us to the natural world.”

Sarah Templeton Wilson, Pyramid Hill’s executive director, voiced appreciation for the donation. She also expressed excitement about being able to display it among the park’s growing outdoor gallery. The acquisition underscores her organization’s commitment to “bringing world-class art to the public while enhancing the cultural and natural landscape” of the parkland.

“Having a piece by such a well-known female sculptor is a tremendous honor, and this sculpture fits beautifully into our natural landscape,” Templeton Wilson said. “It not only enriches our park but also resonates with our mission to integrate art and nature.”