# Spero Anargyros

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American sculptor (1915–2004)

Spero Anargyros Spero Anargyros Born Spero Drosos Anargyros January 23, 1915 New York City, New York, U.S. Died September 10, 2004(2004-09-10) (aged 89) San Mateo, California, U.S. Education Art Students League of New York Occupations Sculptor, medalist Spouse(s) Florence “Nedra” Harrison (m. 1940– 1969; div.) Barbara Brooks (div.) Maria Ester Mendez Dequiroga (m. 1982–2004; his death)

Spero Anargyros (left) and Mahonri Young (right), at [Weir Farm National Historical Park](/source/Weir_Farm_National_Historical_Park)

**Spero Drosos Anargyros** (January 23, 1915 – September 10, 2004) was an American sculptor and [medalist](/source/Medalist), active in the [San Francisco Bay Area](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Area).[1][2] He was known for his large scale memorials and public art sculptures, as well as small medals.

## Early life and education

Spero Anargyros was born on January 23, 1915, in New York City, to parents to Martha and Drosos Anargyros.[1][3] He was the son of a Greek immigrant.[1] He studied in 1934 to 1935 at the [Art Students League of New York](/source/Art_Students_League_of_New_York), under [William Zorach](/source/William_Zorach).[2] He continued his studied with [Louis Slobodkin](/source/Louis_Slobodkin).[4][5]

## Career

In his early career Anargyros secured a federal commission through the [Works Progress Administration](/source/Works_Progress_Administration) (WPA) to complete a [bas relief](/source/Bas_relief) for a New Jersey post office.[3] In 1940, he was employed by the Manhattan Wax and Candle Company.[3] During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Anargyros was stationed in northern Africa in an ambulance unit.[3]

Anargyros worked as the chief assistant under [Mahonri Young](/source/Mahonri_Young) from 1944 to 1947, on the *[This is the Place Monument](/source/This_Is_the_Place_Monument)*.[2][6][3] They worked at the [Weir Farm National Historical Park](/source/Weir_Farm_National_Historical_Park) for the duration of the project and Anargyros lived in [Branchville, Connecticut](/source/Branchville%2C_Connecticut).[3] In 1947, Anagyros moved to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), where he focused on portraits of celebrities;[5] and shortly thereafter moved to San Francisco.[7]

The [Palace of Fine Arts](/source/Palace_of_Fine_Arts) in San Francisco structure was originally designed by architect [Bernard Maybeck](/source/Bernard_Maybeck), with decorative sculptures by [Ulric Ellerhusen](/source/Ulric_Ellerhusen); built for the [1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition](/source/Panama%E2%80%93Pacific_International_Exposition) (PPIE) as a temporary structure. It was completely rebuilt in the 1960s and 1970s. Anargyros worked in the 1960s on the recreation of the 52 weeping lady outdoor sculptures standing at 15 feet (4.6 m) tall for the Palace of Fine Arts.[8] He also modeled other figures for the Palace of Fine Arts, including 22 feet (6.7 m) tall [centaurs](/source/Centaur), and angels.[8]

Some of Anargyros sculpted portraits included [Kirk Douglas](/source/Kirk_Douglas), [George Moscone](/source/George_Moscone), Vic Bergeron of [Trader Vic's](/source/Trader_Vic's), [Edward Daly](/source/Ed_Daly), [Haile Selassie](/source/Haile_Selassie), and [Nelson Mandela](/source/Nelson_Mandela).[3]

Anargyros died following an illness at the age of 89 on September 10, 2004, in a hospital in [San Mateo, California](/source/San_Mateo%2C_California).[1]

## Personal life

Anargyros was married three times. His first marriage was to Florence “Nedra” Harrison (1915–2004), from 1940 until 1969, and ended in divorce.[3][9] Anargyros was married to Barbara Brooks for seven years in the 1970s.[3] His final marriage was to Maria Ester Mendez Dequiroga in 1982, together they lived in [San Bruno, California](/source/San_Bruno%2C_California) and the marriage ended in his death in 2004.[1][3]

## List of works

- *[This Is the Place Monument](/source/This_Is_the_Place_Monument)* (1947), Salt Lake City, Utah; as chief assistant[6]

- *First Westerners* (1957), bronze bas-relief, [First Western Bank and Trust Company](/source/First_Western_Bank_and_Trust_Company) (now Lloyds Bank California), San Francisco, California

- *[Seal of San Francisco](/source/Seal_of_San_Francisco)* (1960) white sierra [granite](/source/Granite), [Hall of Justice](/source/Hall_of_Justice_(San_Francisco)), 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, California

- *Jesus on the Cross* (1973), 12' bronze, private Martinez family [mausoleum](/source/Mausoleum), Guam[10]

- *Pedro Camacho Lujan* *Memorial* (1975) 7' bronze with 6' concrete base, P. C. Lujan Elementary School (formerly known as East Barrigada Elementary School), [Barrigada, Guam](/source/Barrigada%2C_Guam)[11]

- *Indian Being Attacked by a Bear* (1982) cast stone, California State Capitol, Sacramento, California; replica of Pietro Mezzara's 1873 work[12][13][14]

- *Woman Being Attacked by a Buffalo* (1982) cast stone, California State Capitol, Sacramento, California; replica of Pietro Mezzara's 1873 work

- *Gen. [John A. Sutter](/source/John_A._Sutter)* (1987), bronze with stone base, [Sutter General Hospital](/source/Sutter_General_Hospital), 1115 28th Street, Sacramento, California[15]

- *Memorial to Byron Pierson Jensen* (1988), bronze raccoon, [San Bruno Mountain](/source/San_Bruno_Mountain), [Brisbane, California](/source/Brisbane%2C_California); stolen in 2007[16]

- *[Hills Brothers Coffee](/source/Hills_Brothers_Coffee) Drinker* (1992), 9' tall [polychromed](/source/Polychrome) bronze, [The Embarcadero](/source/The_Embarcadero_(San_Francisco)), 2 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California; NRHP-listed[2][17]

- *Bust of Mayor [George Moscone](/source/George_Moscone)* (1994), bronze, [San Francisco City Hall](/source/San_Francisco_City_Hall), 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California[1]

- *Bust of Mayor George Moscone* (1994), bronze, [Moscone Center](/source/Moscone_Center), Third Street Entrance to Moscone South, San Francisco, California[18]

- *Bronze Bust of Mahonri Mackintosh Young*, bronze, Weir Farm National Historical Park, Connecticut

## See also

- [Robert Arneson](/source/Robert_Arneson) (1930–1992), sculptor

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Rubenstein-2004_1-5) Rubenstein, Steve (September 15, 2004). ["Spero Anargyros -- renowned S.F. sculptor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140614011444/http://www.sfgate.com:80/bayarea/article/Spero-Anargyros-renowned-S-F-sculptor-2725343.php). *[SFGate](/source/SFGate)* (Obituary). Archived from [the original](http://www.sfgate.com:80/bayarea/article/Spero-Anargyros-renowned-S-F-sculptor-2725343.php) on June 14, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Marquis_Who's_Who-2003_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Marquis_Who's_Who-2003_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Marquis_Who's_Who-2003_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Marquis_Who's_Who-2003_2-3) "Anargyros, Spero". [*Who's Who in American Art*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hS4ca_siHt0C). Marquis Who's Who, LLC. June 2003. p. 24. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8379-6304-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8379-6304-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Boyle-2023_3-9) Boyle, Rachel; Shannon, Hope (March 2023). ["Historic Resource Study of Laborers at Weir Farm National Historical Park, 1882–1957"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240520015318/https://www.nps.gov/wefa/learn/historyculture/upload/WEFA-Labor-Study-2023.pdf) (PDF). *National Park Service*. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior: 128–133. Archived from [the original](https://www.nps.gov/wefa/learn/historyculture/upload/WEFA-Labor-Study-2023.pdf) (PDF) on May 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Napa Artist Will Exhibit At Depot"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-napa-artist-will-exhibi/178206735/). *The Times-Herald*. January 5, 1969. p. 24. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Press_Democrat-1968_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Press_Democrat-1968_5-1) ["Sculptor Anargyros, Painter Mrs. Smigle In Yountville Show"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-democrat-sculptor-anargyros-p/178207312/). *[The Press Democrat](/source/The_Press_Democrat)*. December 17, 1968. p. 3. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Salt_Lake_Tribune-2004_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Salt_Lake_Tribune-2004_6-1) ["Monument sculptor Spero Anargyros dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-monument-sculptor/178206425/). *[The Salt Lake Tribune](/source/The_Salt_Lake_Tribune)* (Obituary). September 12, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Ronck, Ronn (May 1, 1973). ["Anagyros: No Child's Dolls"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-anagyros-no-childs/178208191/). *Pacific Daily News*. p. 9. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sheldon-1967_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sheldon-1967_8-1) Sheldon, Jerome (September 29, 1967). ["Sculptor had problems with Arts Palace Statues"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-sculptor-had/178207781/). *The Peninsula Times Tribune*. p. 14. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspaper.com](/source/Newspaper.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Taylor, Michael (October 5, 2004). ["Nedra Harrison Anargyros – model for cartoon Dragon Lady"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210416003338/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Nedra-Harrison-Anargyros-model-for-cartoon-2689733.php). *[SFGATE](/source/SFGATE)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Nedra-Harrison-Anargyros-model-for-cartoon-2689733.php) on April 16, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Sculptor portrays Christ's joy"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-valley-news-sculptor-portrays-christ/178207642/). *Tri-Valley News*. September 21, 1973. p. 4. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Ronck, Ronn (March 3, 1975). ["P. C. Lujan A Man To Be Proud Of"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-p-c-lujan-a-man-to/178206863/). *Pacific Daily News*. p. 18. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Indian Being Attacked by a Bear, (sculpture), American Art Museum"](https://www.si.edu/object/siris_ari_331509). *Smithsonian Institution*. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Indian Being Attacked by a Bear, (sculpture)"](https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!331509~!0#focus). *Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS)*. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Legislators see artist's models for state Capitol"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-legislators-see-artists/178208149/). *[Oakland Tribune](/source/Oakland_Tribune)*. October 29, 1981. p. 28. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["General John A. Sutter, (sculpture)"](https://learninglab.si.edu/resources/view/446290). *Smithsonian Learning Lab*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [*Spero Anargyros and his Memorial to Byron Jensen*](http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt6n39r1hr), Calisphere, 1988, retrieved August 5, 2025

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Hills Bros. Coffee Sculpture"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hills-bros-coffee-sculpture). *Atlas Obscura*. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Public Art In and Around The Moscone Center"](https://www.sftravel.com/article/public-art-moscone-center). *San Francisco Travel*. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

## External links

- Media related to [Spero Anargyros](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Spero_Anargyros) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Profile](https://dickjohnsonsdatabank.com/anargyros-spyro.html) in Dick Johnsons Data Bank

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