S'Elever (To Arise)

Walter Erlebacher was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1933. The family was Jewish and in 1940, during WWII and the Nazi Regime, they came to the United States.

Erlebacher was commissioned to make these sculptures for the inside lobby of an office building in downtown Philadelphia. A painting of a garden served as their backdrop and pots of flowers were positioned in front. Now that they have been moved to Woodmere, they have become elements in our garden with plants, trees, and flowers all around.

Walter Erlebacher was a teacher for over twenty-five years who encouraged his students to express ideas by sculpting the human figure. Christopher Smith, whose Sankofa Kore stands nearby, learned from Erlebacher and looked up to him as a mentor.

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Please note that work by this particular artist might not be on view when you visit.
Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.