Gloria Tew (born May 10, 1923 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an abstract sculptor known for her work in marble, bronze and steel. Tew's sculptures are found in institutions, museums, churches and private collections including, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. She resides in Minneapolis.
Tew started her education at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where she studied with Alice Tweton. As an adult, Tew went back to Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter MN, where she was encouraged by her teacher Paul Granlund (1925–2003) to pursue Sculptor. Tew attributes most of her influences to the late Architect Ralph Rapson (1914–2008), who also designed the artist's home and was often found in Tew's studio and the late Modernist Charles Biederman (1906–2004).
Tew began her career as a free lance fashion illustrator in Minneapolis at the age of 15. The drastic change in Tew's artistic direction was brought on by the death of her only child in 1969. Shortly after the tragedy, a friend introduced Tew to Sculptor Paul Granlund, who was the resident sculptor at Gustavus at that time and ultimately became Tews's mentor and friend.
President's National League of Cities Award.Washington, D.C. 2003
Governor Rudy Perpich Memorial—15 foot monument sculpture, Lake Wood Cemetery, Minneapolis 1996
"Caring" Competition Winner. Duluth, Minnesota and Växjö, Sweden August 1993A eight-foot bronze sculpture was placed in the town square of Växjö, Sweden as a part of a sister competition in Duluth, Minnesota 1993.
"Caring" a Cararra marble sculpture, April, 1988
Selected for presentation to Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia during the Royal Visit to Minneapolis, as part of New Sweden '88 Minneapolis, Minnesota April 1988.
"Trees" stainless steel sculpture 1980.
Finalist in the University of Minnesota's 75th Anniversary Alumni Sculpture Competition 1980
Women of Achievement Award West Suburban Chamber of Commerce nominee for Minneapolis, Minnesota1980
"Reflections" a 15-foot outdoor stainless steel sculptor. 1987.Winner of Sculpture Competition for the Minnetonka Civic Center, Minnetonka, Minnesota 1987
"Roll of Honor", stainless steel sculpture 1986
Finalist in Veterans Administration Medical Center Competition, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1986
American Swedish institute, Monuments and Celebrations, the work of Gloria Tew, a retrospective. 2005
"Caring Hands", selected for Generose Building, St. Mary's Hospital (Mayo), Rochester, Minnesota
International Care Givers Conference, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 1996
Granlund Influence Invitational 1985 Callaway Galleries 1984
Lutheran Brotherhood Invitational 1983
United Methodist Invitational 1982
The American Swedish institute 1981
Governor's Mansion 1981
Gustavus Adolphus College 1973
University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, Minnesota 2009.
Gustavus Adolphus, St. Peter, Minnesota 2006
Ridgeway International, Hopkins, Minnesota 2006
Rochester Rowing Club, Rochester, Minnesota 2004.
Mayo Clinic, Gonda Building, Rochester, Minnesota 2005.
Delta Dental, Breast Cancer Race, Claremorris, Ireland 2001.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Retreat Center installation, Minneapolis, Minnesota 2001.
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, Minnesota 2000.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Brighton, Minnesota 2000.
Camp Heartland for Children with AIDS, Willow River, Minnesota 1999.
Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, Minnesota 1998.
Archdiocese, St. Paul, Minnesota 1998.
Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota 1997.
Governor's Monument, St. Paul, Minnesota 1996.
Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota date unknown.
Courage Center, Stillwater, Minnesota 1996.
University of St. Thomas chapel, St. Paul, Minnesota 1996.
Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1994.
Saint Mary's Hospital-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 1994.
Pentair International, St. Paul, Minnesota 1994.
Town Square, Växjö, Kronoberg, Sweden 1993.
Dale Carnegie Office Building, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1991.
Odaka Building, Tokyo, Japan 1990.
Unisys Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1990.
Hagan Systems, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 1990.
Grigsby Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 1989.
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona 1988
Minnetonka Civic Center, Minnetonka, Minnesota 1987.
Burnet Realty, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1985.
Kraus-Anderson Companies, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Date not given).
Trammell Crow Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Date not given).
M.S.P.E. Office Building, St. Paul, Minnesota 1978.
Marquette National Bank, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1975.
IDS Center Health One, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1975.
