Korczak Ziolkowski (Polish: Korczak Ziółkowski; September 6, 1908 – October 20, 1982) was a Polish-American artist and sculptor known for designing the Crazy Horse Memorial. Ziolkowski was born September 6, 1908, in Boston to Polish parents.

He is most known for his sculpture of the Oglala Lakota warrior chief Crazy Horse in the Black Hills, Custer County, South Dakota, a project he began in 1948 and worked on until his death in 1982. The "Crazy Horse Memorial" is still not completed, with the work carried on by his family members after his passing.

Without Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski there would be no Crazy Horse Memorial®. Its history revolves around his own extraordinary story, which is reflected in his log studio-home, workshop, and sculptural galleries at Crazy Horse.

As they reached adulthood, the Ziolkowski sons and daughters demonstrated that Korczak and Ruth imparted to their family not only knowledge and skill, but also a deep love of the Crazy Horse dream. All were free to leave; seven remained involved in the project.

Boston-born sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski works briefly as assistant to Gutzon Borglum carving Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills. Later that year, he wins first prize for sculpture at the New York World's Fair with his marble portrait, Paderewski: Study of an Immortal.

Jun 2, 2024 · It’s about Korczak Ziolkowski, a self learned sculptor who dedicated his life to leave a legacy to an honored people. It’s about Crazy Horse, born in 1840, and killed at Fort Robinson by an American soldier on September 6, 1877. Crazy Horse defended his people the only way he knew how, but only after he saw the Treaty of 1868 broken.

Dec 4, 2018 · In South Dakota’s Black Hills, there is a humongous mountain carving in progress called the ‘Crazy Horse Memorial’. Envisioned by Polish American sculptor Korczak Ziółkowski back in the 1940s, when ready, it’ll show Indian warrior Crazy Horse – and measure in at the biggest sculpture in the world.

Feb 17, 2010 · "The face of Crazy Horse was finished in 1998. Our work now is focused on blocking out the 219-foot horse's head to within 20 feet of the finished surface," said memorial president and...

Oct 21, 1982 · -- A funeral will be held Sunday for Korczak Ziolkowski, who spent 35 years -- nearly half his life -- blasting millions of tons of granite to create a mountain-sized monument to Sioux Indian...

Oct 22, 2016 · In a 1977 Jeep, with her childhood silver hardhat in the backseat, Ziolkowski took Albert up the winding road to the top, to Crazy Horse’s arm, where her father’s vision peers out over the...