Wolfgang Behl, a Hartford resident, was born in Berlin, Germany, where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts before coming to the United States in 1939. A former teacher at the Hartford Art School, he won numerous awards throughout the US and exhibited in major galleries in both the US and Germany. In 1939 he received a fellowship at the Institute of International Education at the Rhode Island School of Design and his work is included in outstanding public and private collections across the nation.

Part of the Archives' Special Collections, Behl's work includes over 400 slides of his sculptures, both in progress and at installation; original sketches of year-end greeting cards; catalogs of both group and one man exhibitions; and the Artist's own copy of Some Drawings by a Sculptor, 1950, Behl produced using a reed pen. His list of commissions and collections includes museums, churches, temples, universities, and galleries.

In 1985 he was commissioned by the UCONN Health Center to create a work that represented the significance of its donors to the quest for excellence at the Health Center. Behl sculpted a family in a circular grouping, representing their support and caring for each other. This 15' high bronze sculpture greets guests as they enter the Health Center and stands on a green Vermont marble base. A limited edition of 20 (1/12th size) was also produced and presented to donors to express our lasting gratitute for their commitment.

The work of digitizing Behl's collection has begun and when completed will be part of this web site.