Life-Sized Leon Russell Sculpture To Arrive In Tulsa For Installation

A life-sized, bronze sculpture of the late Oklahoma musician Leon Russell is set to arrive in Tulsa on Monday.

The piece will greet guests from the courtyard entrance of The Church Studio. 

Leon bought the historic church near 3rd and Utica in the 70s and turned into an iconic recording studio, where artists like Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett spent time hanging out or recording music.

The Church Studio now has new owners with a mission to propel the legacy of Leon.

It's been under renovations for four years and Monday’s installation of the sculpture is a sign the rehab process is one step closer to completion.

The 6-foot, 500 lb. bronze sculpture was created by Oklahoma artist Jim Franklin and cast at Crucible Art Foundry in Norman. It will feature Leon in his signature jean jacket, boots and his legendary top hat.

The sculpture is set to arrive between 11 a.m. and noon on Monday with the installation beginning around 2 p.m. That process is not open to the public for safety reasons.

The newly renovated Church Studio, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is expected to open this fall. It will serve as a recording studio once again, as well as an audio engineer school and a community space for entertainment and networking.

For more information on the Church Studio, Click Here.