George Sumner (artist)

Another significant piece in this vein is 1995's "Renewal," painted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations' charter. This piece depicts the Golden Gate Bridge cradling the earth in a rough representation of the United Nations logo.

Sumner's painting "The Peacemakers" embodies the theme of World peace and understanding. It depicts two dolphins kissing while floating above the earth. It was presented by Sumner to the then leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev on his visit to Stanford University in 1990. Gorbachev saw the piece as Sumner stood with it on the sidewalk at Stanford's Hoover Institution, broke from his security detail, and held a five minute discussion with Summer.

His work "Sweet Liberty", an abstracted version of the Statue of Liberty, was selected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. in 1986. That painting is now housed in the Liberty Island museum. Another painting with this theme, "The Spirit of America", with the statue's base draped in an American flag, was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Lithographs were presented to people and families effected by attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. Sumner created "The Impossible Dream" in 1987, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. It was featured as part of the anniversary celebration.

In 1967-74 Sumner worked as a gardener in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. In 1970 he won a city-wide competition to create the official logo for the Golden Gate Park's 100th anniversary. He later create celebratory works of art for a number of commemorative events. In 1975 he began working full-time as an artist.

Sumner was born and raised in San Francisco. He completed high school and served a three year tour of duty in Southeast Asia with the Navy (1959–61). He then attended the City College of San Francisco, where he focused on Ornamental Horticulture. He intermittently attended the San Francisco Art Institute from 1963-66.

George Sumner (born Aprıl 29,1940) is an American oil painter and environmental activist who began his career by creating marine-themed abstracts in the 1970s.