In 1925, the Hollywood California newspaper, The Daily Citizen, praised 13-year-old Everett DuPen’s talent in sculpture, calling him “The Genius Among Us”. At his death at age 92 he was “an elder” and Fellow of the prestigious National Sculpture Society and The National Academy of Design. In the years between he had a remarkable career as a sculptor and teacher spanning eight decades.
DuPen began his formal art studies at USC in 1932, later transferring to Yale, graduating in 1937. He was on the USC and Yale fencing teams and was a Southern California fencing champion in foil. In addition to studying Architecture at Harvard, he spent a year studying the masters at the American Academy of Art in Rome. Later in his career he took leaves to study bronze casting in Florence, Italy and art in India, Nepal and Egypt.
Everett was smitten with the colorful, unconventional and talented ballet dancer from the N.Y. Metropolitan Opera’s Corps de Ballet, Charlotte Nicks. They married in 1939 and moved to St. Louis where he taught at Carnegie Institute of Technology before settling in to his 38 year career at the University of Washington. As Professor, he played a major role in building the UW’s Sculpture Division into a nationally and internationally known group. Besides his popular sculpture courses he was well known for his life drawing classes. In retirement he continued to teach evening drawing classes and was mentor in the NW Stone Carving Association. DuPen was most well known for his beautiful figurative pieces in terra cotta, stone, wood and bronze. He taught, influenced and was a friend and mentor to generations of national and Seattle artists.
His sculpture can be found in many public parks and buildings as well as in museums and private collections. Among them are the DuPen Fountain at the Seattle Center and the fountain at the Joel Pritchard Building at the State Capitol.
Everett was born in Chico, CA to George and Etta (Novelle Freeman) DuPen. Everett's brother's family William and Betty Turnquist reside in Walnut Creek CA. Everett was the beloved husband of 65 years of Charlotte Nicks DuPen and the loved Father of Marguerite Day, Vail, CO; Ninia DuPen, Seattle, WA; William E. DuPen (Patti), Vancouver, WA; Novelle DuPen-Meyerhoff (Robert), Newton, MA: Destia DuPen Hermes (Rodney), Redmond, WA; Dr. Stuart L. DuPen (Anna), Bainbridge Island, WA. Grandfather of 11. Great-Grandfather of 6.