The Artist

Upon graduation from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Berg realized that he had gotten more satisfaction from the stone carvings he had been making during his senior year than his studies in economics. Three years later he completed the MFA in Sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania and got his first commission - the African Warthog for the Philadelphia Zoo.

Over the ensuing forty plus years, Berg completed over fifty public commissions at zoos, parks, museums and universities around the United States. His smaller works, including geometric abstractions and bronze maquettes of the life-size public pieces, have been shown in galleries throughout the country. Consistent in Berg's work is his fascination with the natural world, the dignified portrayal of his subjects, and his insistence that his works be accessible and "hands-on" for the public. 

"The motivation behind my sculpture comes from an early childhood fascination with animal life and the natural world. The goal of my work is to place hands on, accessible public art works which, through their character and natural appeal, foster an appreciation and respect for animal life.

Unlike much art, my sculptures communicate through direct physical involvement and visual appeal. There is no intellectual challenge, only the subtle reinforcement of the beauty and value of these “other than human” living beings." - Eric Berg

Professional Associations

Society of Animal Artists, Executive Board, 1988 - 2010

American Zoological Association 1990 - 2000


Education

University of Pennsylvania, MFA, 1974

University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, B.S.,1968


Awards

Awards: Society of Animal Artists - Award of Excellence

Artists for Conservation - Medal of Excellence


Public Sculpture

Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, PA (2018)

Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust, Haddonfield, NJ (2018)

The Hill School, Pottstown, PA (2015)

Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN (2013)

University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, FL (2012)

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA (2010)

Society Hill Synagogue, Philadelphia, PA (2010)

Cool Springs Reservoir Park, Wilmington, DE (2009)

California Academy of Natural Sciences, San Francisco, CA (2008)

University of Scranton, Scranton, PA (2008, 1992)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (2007)

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem, PA 2007

Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington DC (2005, 2006)

Agnes Irwin School, Rosemont, PA (2004)

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (2002)

Smith Family Plaza, Pottstown, PA (2002)

Schuylkill River Park, Philadelphia, PA (2002)

All Saints Episcopal Church, Great Neck, NY (2001)

Linton Park, Borough of Newtown, Bucks County, PA (1999)

National Zoo, Washington DC (1999)

Ronald McDonald House, Camden, NJ (1998)

Sedgwick County Zoo, Witchita, KS (1998)

HomeSafe Center, Palm Beach, FL (1997)

Riverfront Park, Little Rock, AK (1997)

James A. Mitchener Museum of Art, Doylestown, PA (1996)

Borough of State College, State College, PA (1996)

Coherent Communications, Leesburg, VA (1996)

Cambridge Technology Partners, Cambridge, MA (1995)

Reading Terminal Market, Phila., PA (1995)

Safeguard Scientifics, Wayne, PA (1994)

Dreher Park Zoo, Palm Beach, FL (1994)

New Jersey State Aquarium, Camden, NJ (1993)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute, NY (1992)

Oklahoma City Zoo, Okla. City, OK (1992)

Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY (1992)

Friends Central School, Wynnewood, PA (1991)

Everglades National Park, Royal Palm, FL (1990)

The Hill School, Pottstown, PA (1990)

Fitler Square, Philadelphia, PA (1989, 1983)

Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA (1987)

Philadelphia Zoo, Phila., PA (1986, 1980, 1976)

Commerce Bank of New Jersey Corporate Headquarters,

Cherry Hill, NJ (1986)

City Hall, Philadelphia, PA (1985)

Institute of Scientific Information, Phila., PA (1984)

Please Touch Museum, Phila., PA (1982)

Museum of Natural History, Phila., PA (1981)

Portico Place, Philadelphia, PA (1979)

Palumbo Park, Philadelphia, PA (1979)

Finnegan Sports Complex, Philadelphia, PA (1979)

Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA (1978)

Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, Miquon, PA (1976)


Previous Museum Exhibitions

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila., PA

Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA

The High Desert Museum, Bend, OR

Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA

Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, CO

Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT

Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown, NY

Rochester Museum of Art and Science, Rochester, NY

Allentown Museum of Art, Allentown, PA

Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH

Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila., PA

Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver CO

Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA

Bloomingdale Park Museum, Chicago, IL

The Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX

San Bernadino County Museum, Redlands, CA

Anniston Museum of Natural History, Anniston, AL

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI

Genesee Country Village Museum, Mumford, NY


Previous Gallery Exhibitions

Newman Saunders Gallery, Wayne, PA

Sommerville-Manning Gallery, Wilmington, DE

Surovek Gallery, Palm Beach, FL

Bottoms Fine Art, Santa Barbara, CA

Sherry French Gallery, NY, NY

Cline Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

Philinda Gallery, Edwards, CO

Miami Zoo,  Miami, FL

Fisher Galleries, Toms Brook, VA

Gallery Mack, Palm Desert, CA

Rice and Falkenberg Gallery, Palm Beach, FL

The Sporting Gallery, Middleburg, VA

Sound Shore Gallery, Stamford, CT

Sportsman's Edge / King Gallery, NY, NY

Public Art Trust, Washington, D.C.

Institute of Contemporary Art, Phila., PA

City Hall, Phila., PA

Genest Gallery, Lambertville, NJ

Marion Locks Gallery, Phila., PA

University of Pennsylvania, Phila., PA

Eric Makler Gallery, Phila., PA

Chautauqua Art Gallery, Chautauqua, NY

Central Park Zoo, New York, NY

Linda McAdoo Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico