James (Jim) McCulloch grew up near Berthold, ND, where he attended one of the last one-room schools in the state. His grandparents homesteaded in the Souris River area, and McCulloch’s upbringing laid the foundation for his interest in the American West. His sculptures bear his grandfather’s cattle brand.

The body of Jim’s work focuses on wildlife and the people of the American Great Plains. His keen eye for anatomical detail brings life to buffalo, horses, elk, bear and coyotes in his sculptures and evoke the legendary determination of the cowboys, trappers and native people of the West.

One of Jim’s most ambitious works is an eight-piece tribute to the North Dakota State Centennial. They depict aspects of the state’s history, ranging from the Native American corn harvest to the modern oil industry.