Biography

A sculptor who describes his style as closely resembling realistic impressionism, Nunneley has created numerous works, several of which can be viewed in the Tulsa area, such as Gilcrease museum, Tulsa International Airport and Downtown Williams on the Green. In addition to depicting historical figures, Nunneley also creates sculptures of wildlife and commissioned bust fired in clay or cast in bronze.

Nunneley majored in Art at the University of Oklahoma and Tulsa University. He received advanced training in sculpture at the Loveland Academy of Art in Loveland, Colorado as well as the Scottsdale School or Art in Scottsdale, Arizona. He began his professional career as an illustrator for a scientific instrument company in the 1950s. Over the next few decades he started and sold three companies then became Vice President of Research and Development for an instrument company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He holds five U.S. patents for oil and gas-related products.

He became a full-time sculptor in 1995, and describes this as his most satisfying job. Prior to starting any work on a piece, Nunneley begins by doing extensive research on his subjects. When creating a model sculpture, he uses a multiple-step process, starting with an oil-based model in clay. From that, a series of molds are created to achieve the final result of a bronze likeness of the subject. Nunneley currently resides in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

For sculture commissions in bronze or life size bust in fired clay, you may contact the sculptor at 918.625.2067.

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Gilcrease Museum. David Nunneley with Duane H. King, Ph.D., Tulsa University V.P. for Museum Affairs and Executive Director of Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum, standing in front of Nunneley’s statue of Sequoyah dedicated in Dr. King’s honor.