Students Aspire, Bronze sculpture at Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States
Students Aspire is a bronze relief sculpture at Howard University depicting two African-American figures in profile facing each other with hands extended toward five disks containing scientific symbols. Tree root imagery with faces at each end connects the composition, linking the two figures visually and conceptually.
Elizabeth Catlett created this sculpture in 1977 with funding from the Exxon Education Foundation specifically for the chemical engineering wing. The work was commissioned as part of the university's broader effort to enrich its campus with artworks.
The title reflects the hope that graduates will achieve great things in their fields. Two figures appear to encourage each other while tree root imagery symbolizes the connection between students and scientific knowledge.
The sculpture is located on the Howard University campus and is freely accessible to visitors during campus hours. Plan your visit during daylight to fully appreciate the bronze details and symbolic elements of the composition.
The sculpture resulted from a selection process where faculty, staff, and students chose Catlett's design from submissions by multiple invited artists. This collaborative approach made the work a true reflection of the campus community's vision.
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