From clay to bronze, sculptor shares how Baylor’s new Gilbert/Walker statues came to life

In July 2021, Baylor announced it was seeking an artist to create statues of Rev. Robert Gilbert (BA ’67) and Barbara Walker (BA ’67), the university’s first Black graduates, honoring the pair for what they endured to open doors for countless other students who would follow in their footsteps.

Less than two years later, Baylor unveiled and dedicated those statues just outside Tidwell Bible Building, where Gilbert and Walker took classes in their majors. They’re the handiwork of sculptor Benjamin Victor, an accomplished artist — the only living artist with three works in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall (and with a fourth coming later this year).

Victor worked with the families to decide every detail in the statues: the poses, what they’re wearing, the looks on their faces, the quotes on the pedestals, and more. Baylor junior George Schroeder spoke with Victor to share the statues’ story, from conception to unveiling:

Sic ’em, Benjamin Victor!