Artist Jocelyn Russell

Jocelyn Russell has been a wildlife artist for 25 years and has completed numerous commissions throughout the United States. Her portfolio includes Utah State University’s bull statue and BYU’s cougar statue. She recently completed statue projects for the Boys Scouts of America in Oklahoma and the U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Virginia.

A committee of students, alumni, faculty and staff in June chose Russell to create the monument, concluding a rigorous invitational that included proposals from five artists, three of them from Omaha. Russell’s statue, based on a fighting bull, depicts a powerful, muscular Maverick overlooking campus. He symbolizes the determination, pride and success of UNO students and alumni and the opportunities before them.

Russell previously lived and worked for 15 years on a cattle ranch in Colorado. Today she works from her home studio on San Juan Island in Washington. Russell visited with students, alumni and others on campus in June and returned for the Association’s 100th Anniversary Celebration Nov. 8. She was at UNO for the statue's installation and for its Aug. 24 "Unleashing" and dedication of the monument. Maverick Monument is her first Nebraska commission.

See a profile of Russell written by UNO's University Communications.