M.L. Snowden's life has been absolutely enveloped by sculpture. The artist's very earliest memories - virtually all waking moments-center on three-dimensional creations. Her father, the renowned George Holburn Snowden, encouraged his daughter to play in the family studio from the time she first showed interest in his art. From the age of four, she watched him with unwavering attention, enthralled and enchanted. And by the time she was seven, working in clay alongside him, was a joyous routine.
As she matured, M.L. learned the time-honored, transcendental sculpting techniques embraced by her dad; his mentor, Yale's Robert George Eberhard, had been a protégé of the great French sculptor, Auguste Rodin.
Part of this broad seminal heritage is generated by means of Rodin's original sculpting tools; a physical connection with her inheritance. The hallowed instruments -some of which the artist employs in sculpting her own works-are a grand symbol for M.L. Snowden and her patrons. They are an awe-inspiring foundation for her work, and an added impetus for support of her utter devotion and Rodin's legacy.

An Italian strain - a Michaelangelo-like "donna petrosa" effect - is exquisitely blended with it all. The artist's highly formative years (benefiting from post-graduate study grants to the Vatican Collections in Rome, the Uffizi in Florence, and the Louvre in Paris) may account for the exquisite element.

Snowden's contributions to sculpture have been acknowledged by collectors and the highest authorities alike. She was awarded the inaugural Alex Ettl Grant from the National Sculpture Society for "Lifetime Achievement in American Sculpture" at the early age of only 36. And in 1992, the world's most prestigious sculpture prize - The International Rodin Competition Special Grand Prize - was bestowed upon her for "Cataclasis". For that competition - involving a multitude of sculptors from thirty-two countries - the winner was selected without recourse to the identity of any of the candidates.

Among the many esteemed commissions accepted by the artist, the Main Altar of the new 200 million dollar Los Angeles Cathedral -dedicated in 2002 - is particularly noteworthy, as she was chosen from a field of over 8,000 international sculptors. Currently, she's been developing the central sculpture, "Flame of Liberty," for the immortal heart of the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Her most recent creations are infused with geological and universal themes, humanizing the forces of Nature with great humility. She enables viewers to feel phenomena that are otherwise inaccessible, encourages collectors to intuit meanings behind the abstract. And whether or not one has momentary contact or prolonged exposure to the artistry, purity and authenticity of her creations penetrate to the core of our higher consciousness.

An impressive list of M.L. Snowden commissions and collections can be found all over the world, including the permanent White House Presidential Art Collection.


· TRY FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR EXTENDED EUROPEAN POST GRADUATE RESIDENCE and study at The Louvre, Paris France; The Vatican Collections, Rome, Italy, The Uffizi, Florence Italy and the Academy of the foundation, Conservatoire dall' Abaco, Verona, Italy (1974-1976)

· MEDAILLE DE PREMIER CLASSE, Exposition Annuelle Des Beaux Arts, Paris, France

· PREMIO D'ORO: Snowden Scultura, Istituto Brindesi Esposizione Verona, Italy

· LE SCULPTURE ET LES DESSINS DE M. L. SNOWDEN, Societé de Bonaparte, Paris, France

· EXHIBITION, Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, the late Charles White, Moderator ONE WOMAN EXHIBITION and Television Interview, Columbia Studios, CA
12th ANNUAL EXHIBITION, Showcase 21 SNOWDEN SCULPTURE: WORKS FROM NORTHERN ITALY Glendale Federal Gallery, CA

· FRANK SULLIVAN PORTRAIT MEMORIAL, Commission, California Arts Council, Sacramento, CA

· ALBERT GERSTEN MEMORIAL, Over life Bronze and 15 foot marble setting, Lobby, Albert Gersten Athletic Pavilion, Loyola Marymount Los Angeles, CA

· NATHAN DUPRAT AWARD, AGA European Sculptors Atelier, Galerie Duprat, Paris France NEW SCULPTURE, Inauguration of Snowden Studios studio showroom/gallery, CA & European tour

· AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles OLYMPIC GAMES COMMEMORATIVE PANEL, 8' Lobby, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood, CA

· IRA KAUFMAN AWARD COMMISSION, Centinela Hospital Medical Center CONCEPTUAL COMMISSION, St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, CA

· INAUGURAL AMERICAN WINNER: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN AMERICAN SCULPTURE THROUGH A DISTINGUISHED COLLECTION OF WORK, The Alex Ettl Grant, Presented by the National sculpture Society, New York, N. Y.

· WILLIAM MILLER MEMORIAL COMMISSION, Centinela Hospital Medical Center

· THE WORLD WINNER, THE INTERNATIONAL RODIN COMPETITION SPECIAL PRIZE, The Utsukushi - ga - hara Open Air Museum, Tokyo, Japan

· PERMANENT ARCHIVES established for M. L. Snowden at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D. C., Brookgreen Sculpture Gardens, South Carolina, and the world's larges outdoor sculpture Museum, The Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan

· SNOWDEN: INTERNATIONAL WINNER OF THE RODIN, Grand Palais, Paris, France

· PERMANENT COLLECTION, Hakone Open-Air Museum, Tokyo, Japan

· GRACE JORDAN TRUST MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SCULPTURE

· COMMISSIONED TO CREATE THE MAIN ALTAR for the new Reference number 165 million Los Angeles Cathedral

· SCULPTOR of the half tone bronze relief "Angel Frieze" panel, the first commissioned depiction of Angels for the public setting in the history of the city of Los Angeles

· CYCLE II OF 25 MONUMENTAL GEOLOGICAL BRONZES COMMISSIONED by Carano/Gordon Atlanta. Feature Article on the Geological Bronze Collection, Art and Antiques Magazine, September issue. Feature Film completed; The Legacy of Rodin and M. L. Snowden; Media Associates & Nova