FLINT, MI – Joe Rundell, a Flint sculptor and General Motors retiree who shaped former Flint auto pioneers, has died.
The “gifted” sculptor left an indelible impression on the community, according to a statement released by the City of Flint.
Rundell, aged 84, died on Tuesday, March 11.
He created all 11 statues in the Back to the Bricks Automotive Heritage Collection, including life-size bronze replicas of David Buick, William C. (Billy) Durant, Louis Chevrolet, and Albert Champion, which are proudly displayed in downtown Flint.
Rundell also created a sculpture of former Flint mayor Floyd McCree, which is currently on display outside Flint City Hall.
Rundell told MLive-The Flint Journal that the sculpture began as a personal project in 2021.
“I started this project on my own, unaware that it would be purchased and installed outside City Hall. “It’s about time Flint recognized and celebrated its Black heritage,” said Rundell, who began sculpting at the age of 71. “I’ll never be Michelangelo, and I see myself as a medium-sized frog in a small pond at best. But, at the very least, I’ll leave something meaningful.”
Rundell’s work can also be seen at Flint Bishop Airport, where he created the “Rosie the Riveter” statue, which greets visitors in the baggage claim area.
His statue of A.B.C. Hardy, the next piece in the Back to the Bricks Automotive Heritage Collection, will be unveiled in August.
“We have lost a remarkable individual, but his legacy will surely live on in the art he created,” Back to the Bricks organizers wrote on social media.
The city of Flint also issued a statement: “Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who was touched by his work. May his artistry and commitment to Flint continue to inspire us all.
Rundell spent a lot of time engraving firearms before becoming a sculptor at the age of 71.
He taught himself to engrave after purchasing his own kit for $3 in 1961.
At the age of 48, Rundell created his first clay sculpture, a bust of the Greek goddess Athena.
