Lorenzo Ghiglieri, American (1931 - 2020)

Lorenzo Ghiglieri: The Gold Panner of American Spirit
As told by H.J. Nick, Founder of ArtFactory.com

When people ask me about the great American artists—the ones who didn’t just sculpt bronze but forged legacy—one name always comes to mind: Lorenzo Ghiglieri. The world remembers him for his monumental bronzes displayed from the Vatican to the White House;, but I see him as something more personal. I see Lorenzo the Gold Panner—not just in the literal sense, but as a man who spent his life mining the essence of America itself.

Forged by the Frontier

California 49'er Circa 1850

Lorenzo’s story begins on the raw edge of the American frontier. It’s no exaggeration to say that gold ran through his blood. Like so many pioneers of their time, his ancestors came West chasing a dream—searching the creeks and rivers of Oregon’s gold country with little more than a pan, grit, and belief in the promise of the land.

When I heard these stories, I didn’t just hear family folklore—I heard heritage. I saw the same energy in Lorenzo’s art that his forebears once poured into the rivers. That’s the soul he sculpted into every bronze eagle, every wild horse, every expression of freedom and frontier spirit.

A Kindred Spirit in Craftsmanship

I’ve spent my own life preserving American heritage through handcrafted design, and when Mark Russo Ghiglieri, Lorenzo’s son, and I began working together, the connection was instant. Like his father, Mark wasn’t sculpting for glory. He sculpted like a man digging for gold—carefully, authentically, patiently uncovering something pure.

When Mark first visited my studio at ArtFactory.com, he didn’t come with ego. He came with reverence. He would run his hands over a century-old slab of wood like it was a relic; study a hand-forged hinge like it was sacred. I remember him pausing mid-conversation, laying his hand on a timber beam and saying, “H.J., this is the real gold.” And I knew exactly what he meant.

To both Lorenzo and Mark, the real treasure isn’t in the flash—it’s in the substance, the story, the truth behind the craftsmanship. That’s a belief we’ve always shared to the core.

Panning the American Soul

Just as his ancestors once sifted gravel in cold mountain streams, Lorenzo spent his life panning through the ideals and imagery that define American greatness—a legacy he passed proudly to his family. And when he struck something timeless, he cast it in glory.

Take his renowned “American Patriot” eagle—wings outstretched, talons fierce, soaring with freedom. That’s

Mark Russo Photographed with President Donald J. Trump/ Hand delivering Presidential American Patriot in Solid Gold.

 not just a sculpture—it’s an anthem in bronze, silver, and gold. Prized by Presidents, VIPs, and world leaders alike—including Donald J. Trump, our most patriotic and pro-business president—who personally invested in:

The Presidential American Patriot: A Masterpiece in Solid 24K Gold (SGE1776)
Sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiglieri | Constitution Pedestal by Mark Russo Ghiglieri
In support of H.J. Nick & ArtFactory.com’s Lost Arts Initiative

Every Ghiglieri piece is more than a work of art—it’s a monument. A relic of culture that says to future generations: “This is who we were. This is what we stood for.” Whether sculpting untamed mustangs, majestic elk, or bold Native warriors, the Ghiglieris channel the same pioneer spirit their family once carried into the wild: bold, fearless and reverent of nature’s truth.

Certified by H.J. Nick – A Signature of Legacy

That’s why every original Lorenzo Ghiglieri piece we offer at ArtFactory.com is certified by me personally, H.J. Nick—not just as museum-grade fine art, but as investment-quality American heritage. When you own a Ghiglieri, you don’t just own a sculpture. You own a story—one that began in the goldfields of Oregon, passed through generations and found eternal voice in bronze.

Gold Panner  **SOLD OUT**

The bronze statue "49er Miner," crafted by renowned sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri, proudly stands in the COED/CHHS Plaza at UNC Charlotte. Symbolizing perseverance, pioneering spirit, and the university’s historic gold-mining roots, students affectionately call him “Norm” and often place a penny in his pan for good luck. Image courtesy of UNC Charlotte. Learn more about campus traditions.

The Gold Panner Lives On

Lorenzo Ghiglieri may have passed on, but his legacy lives on—in every eagle’s wing, in every muscle of a wild horse, in every soul awakened to the beauty of the untamed.

Yes, Lorenzo was a master sculptor. But to me, he was more. He was a seeker of the sublime, a panner of truth, and a man who understood, like few ever have, that the real gold lies in what we leave behind.

—Signed, H.J. Nick & ArtFactory.com