Ott Jones, a professional sculptor for 37 years, has created a diverse collection of wildlife and sporting sculpture. He is in prominent collections around the world and honored in having the late Queen Elizabeth acquire “Birth of the Labrador”, a sculpture depicting Labradors in a dory, retrieving cod for British fisherman in the 1500’s off the Newfoundland coast.
He is a member of Allied Artists of America, National Sculpture Society and Society of Animal Artists. In 2024 Ott won the Mary Kay & Paul Jeynes Memorial Award from AAA. He was honored in winning the coveted Gold Medal of Honor in 2022 from Allied Artists for his river otter monument, “River Rascals”. In 2021, Allied Artists awarded him the Ranieri Sculpture Casting Award for his peregrine falcon chasing two teal, “Survival of the Fittest”. In 2020, he won the Gilbert and Marion Roller Award for his blue heron monument, “Queen of the Waterway”.
He has participated in numerous juried shows and museum exhibitions including Brinton Museum, C.M. Russell Museum, Coors Western Art Show, High Desert Museum, Mountain Oyster Club, Small Works Great Wonders, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Waterfowl Festival and Western Visions at NMWA. Over his career, Ott has placed dozens of life-size and monumental sculptures. Perhaps his two most notable pieces are the fly fisherman and Lab, “Stream Side Companions” at the Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport and “Jim Bridger – King of the Mountain Men” monument in front of Bozeman’s Chamber of Commerce.
“In creating sculpture, I strive to capture the beauty of my subject’s form and personality while incorporating this into a strong composition. A lifetime of observing wildlife in its natural habitat has provided firsthand knowledge of animal behaviors and their subtle gestures which is crucial in portraying my subjects’ accurately.”
Growing up in Spokane, WA, he has been a wildlife enthusiast and avid outdoorsman since he was a boy. “Dad taught me how to hunt and fish and mom taught me to appreciate wildlife. After attending Washington State University on a tennis scholarship and graduating, he went to Alaska and worked as a fishing guide for three summers and a welder’s helper in Prudhoe Bay for a year.
It was during this period he realized that sculpting was his passion. Ott, his wife Joan of 37 years and their four children make their home in Bozeman, Montana. “I’m so fortunate to call Montana my home. It’s such a great place to raise a family and work as a sculptor. The abundant wildlife, wilderness and resources, provides me with endless ideas and inspiration.
