His art has been displayed in museums across the country. His iconic sculpture represents the city where he lives. And his artwork has earned him international acclaim.

Now, one of his pieces sits in the Vatican, a gift from President Donald Trump to Pope Francis.

Stuart-based artist Geoffrey Smith’s “Rising Above” sculpture was one of several items given by the president to the pope during their meeting in the Holy See on Wednesday. Other gifts included a set of first-edition books written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a piece of granite from the King “Stone of Hope” monument in Washington, D.C.

Bronze sculptures of birds, fish and other wildlife come to life in Geoffrey Smith’s Stuart studio. Smith is seen here in 2003, the year his Stuart Sailfish sculpture was installed at a key intersection in downtown Stuart. (Meghan McCarthy / The Palm Beach Post)

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

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The bronze creation, which is over two feet tall, features several white lotus flowers surrounded by three olive-green leaves.

“Crafted by an American artist, ‘Rising Above’ represents hope for a peaceful tomorrow, as it evokes two universal values: unity and resilience,” the White House said in a statement on the gifts. “The flowering lotus exemplifies the possibility for growth and triumph in the face of trying times.”

Though Trump’s gift of “Rising Above” undoubtedly makes it Smith’s most high-profile work to date, so many of the artist’s sculptures are in public spots around Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast that residents already may be very familiar with his style.

Pope Francis exchanges gifts with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)

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The Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park is home to his sculptures of frolicking otters, and the Florida Oceanographic Society on Hutchinson Island in Martin County features “The Sea Life Monument,” a 19-foot-tall bronze sculpture of two manatees and two sea turtles on a pedestal adorned with swimming dolphins, fish and an octopus.



Many of his sculptures focus on the natural world: An osprey clutches a fish. A lioness gazes at her surroundings. A bald eagle serves as a symbol of American strength.

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Geoffrey Smith’s Stuart Sailfish sculpture sits at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Joan Jefferson Way in downtown Stuart. One of Smith’s sculptures was given by President Donald Trump to Pope Francis this week. (Meghan McCarthy/The Palm Beach Post)

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Smith declined through a spokesperson to comment for this article. But in a 2003 profile by the Palm Beach Post, the sculptor explained how wildlife inspired his work.



“I grew up with a great respect for the outdoors,” Smith said in that story. “That love of wildlife has followed me through my life as a sculptor — whether it’s ducks, great blue herons or African lions.”

Smith grew up in California before moving to Montana to study art, then relocating to Stuart in 1996.

Stuart artist Geoffrey Smith gives a lecture at the Elliott Museum on the age-old “lost wax” process of making his bronze sculptures, including the alligator in the foreground, in 2004. (Palm Beach Post staff file photo)

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Two of Smith’s sculptures mark entry-points to downtown Stuart. There’s his “Three Heron Monument,” perched at the center of the roundabout at Colorado Avenue and Southeast M.L.K. Jr. Boulevard. And there’s the sailfish.

Stuart is known as “the Sailfish Capital of the World,” so it’s fitting that Smith’s 18-foot-tall sailfish sculpture towers over the intersection of Dixie Highway and Joan Jefferson Way. Surrounded by cascading jets of water, “The Stuart Sailfish” was installed in 2003. It was commissioned by a resident of nearby Sewall’s Point, who donated the sculpture to the city.

“Shell Boys,” a sculpture and fountain created by Stuart artist Geoffrey Smith in the image of his two sons, sits at the entrance to the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center on the Martin Health System campus in downtown Stuart. It was installed there in 2007. (Palm Beach Post staff file photo)

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

“Sculptures have such an impact on people,” Smith said in 2003. “Traffic circles are a perfect place to put them. In Europe, you know, every street corner has a statue on it.”

According to Smith’s website, he came across a field of lotus in the Everglades, photographing the flowers “for years” before crafting the “Rising Above” sculpture. A page on his website is dedicated to the creation of “Rising Above,” showing the photos, sketches and clay sculpture that led to the finished product, handed from Trump to Pope Francis on Wednesday.

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President Trump giving Pope Francis a sculpture by Geoffrey Smith!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Aleta Smith on Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Smith’s wife, Aleta, relayed her excitement in a Facebook post Wednesday morning that was punctuated by a dozen exclamation points.

“President Trump giving Pope Francis a sculpture by Geoffrey Smith!!!!” she wrote. “Amazing!!!!!!!!!!”