(uplifting music) - [Narrator] Her sculptures capture the spirit, passion, and glory of the people they portray.

- I've been told I can make bronze move, which I think is a wonderful thing to be known for.

(uplifting music) This is the clay.

It's in pieces right now, but it's pretty hard.

- [Narrator] Susan Wagner is a Pittsburgh-based sculptor and artist, whose creations can be seen at indoor and outdoor venues across Western Pennsylvania.

- [Susan] The policeman is looking out over the city.

The dog watching at the same angle.

(mellow orchestral music) - [Narrator] In Pittsburgh, some of Wagner's most recognizable works are along the city's North Shore.

At PNC Park, a towering bronze image of baseball Hall-of-Famer, Roberto Clemente, greets Pirates fans as they arrive.

(mellow orchestral music) - I had only done one sculpture in my life.

I didn't know Roberto was famous, I truly did not, because I never followed baseball.

(orchestral music) It was a nerve-wracking time.

When the Clemente family and Willie Stargell unveiled it and I heard the cheering, that's when I knew it would be okay.

- [Narrator] A decade later, the Pirates called again, asking if she would sculpt another legend, Willie Stargell.

(upbeat orchestral music) - I said, "Of course, how tall do you want him?"

"12 foot like the other one, we have a pose chosen."

I said, "Okay, see you in a year," boom.

And I took care of everything.

- [Announcer] There's a drive into deep left field.

- [Susan] It's a moment in Pittsburgh history that everybody loves.

(crowd cheering) - [Narrator] Wagner's sculpture of Bill Mazeroski captures his game winning home run during the 1960s World Series.

- [Susan] The Pirates wanted that pose duplicated.

- [Narrator] But Wagner is quick to point out that sports figures are not her only subjects.

Her latest work is a six foot four sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in the borough of Wilkinsburg, just outside of Pittsburgh.

- He's standing there looking very pensive, looking down.

He's got one hand on his vest, and he's got the Proclamation rolled up in his other hand.

(uplifting music) - [Narrator] This Lincoln statue was unveiled in 2021.

It replaced an aging, corroded likeness dating back to 1916.

- And I sculpted that during COVID shutdown, which was really difficult.

I was intimidated by how many sculptures there were of him.

I found out there's over 300 sculptures of Abraham Lincoln.

So I was scared to death.

Every time I get a commission, I do a lot of research.

I read their life story.

I get as much photographs of them as I'm able, different angles.

Everything was shut down except the internet.

But I managed.

(uplifting music) This clay is temperature sensitive, okay?

- [Narrator] Because of their size, Wagner crafts many of her larger sculptures in her garage behind her home in the Friendship section of the city.

Sculpting it seems is in her blood.

- I grew up in Penn Hills, always was drawing, and scooping up clay from the ground, bringing home, making things out of it.

I didn't decide one day to become an artist.

I think it was just always in me.

- [Narrator] It's a talent that Wagner has nurtured, cultivated, and managed for more than 40 years.

- The human form fascinates me.

I'm never tired of studying somebody's face, with the way they move their body.

- Overall, it's a great representation of Tom.

(mellow music) Susan couldn't have done a better job.

And I told Susan what I wanted.

I wanted Tom sitting on a bench.

- [Narrator] Joy Starzl is the wife of the late pioneer organ transplant surgeon, Dr. Thomas Starzl.

She commissioned Susan to create a sculpture of her husband which can be seen outside the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

- I did meet him before he passed away.

And I was very impressed with who he was.

I realized in speaking with him that he's very socially conscious, very caring.

And I couldn't take my eyes off of his hands.

I couldn't, and I also realized how much in love they were.

(uplifting music) I also sculpted him in my garage, and then I let Joy come every day.

Anytime she wanted, I don't usually do that, but I let her, I understood she needed to be near him.

- So, Susan Wagner picked up every detail.

She put a pen in his pocket, and Tom wore a fountain pen all the time.

His hands are the exact size of his hands, but my favorite part of the statue is having my name on his chest.

Inside his lapel with a heart.

Tom wore special socks.

She was able to replicate the shoes.

The shoe strings, that was very important, because Tom fought with his shoestrings regularly.

- [Narrator] Details that only a master artist can produce.

- [Susan] I have the welder build the armature.

- [Narrator] Right now, Wagner's working on this statue of St. Michael, the arch angel.

- I get blocks of clay.

I break some off and attach it to the armature.

I have in mind what I want to create.

I know an arm is so thick, so I have to put enough clay on there that I am able to sculpt in, take some off and sculpt in the detail.

I bulk the whole thing up with the clay.

And then I go in again, put in the detail.

I feel it is looking at it, the finished clay.

If I'm not agitated by this thing or that thing, then I know it's done.

Then I call the customer in to come and look.

- [Narrator] And if the customer approves, the clay sculpture is sent to a Foundry.

There, it undergoes a series of steps, that includes the making of a mold, and the pouring of molten bronze metal left to solidify.

This is called casting.

The entire process can take months, and cost thousands of dollars.

- [Susan] Casting bronze is at labor intensive process.

Many, many, many steps.

I do not tell the Foundry what to do.

I depend on their expertise.

They depend on mine, and we all work together.

I go up and work on the wax.

I go up and work on the patina.

I oversee everything.

(uplifting music) - [Narrator] Unlike her commissioned work, this sculpture of St. Michael is something she's doing on her own for possible sale later.

- It's such a joy.

I can sculpt what I want, and what I feel it should look like.

And he is descending.

His wings are up and he's fighting evil, which is why he's wielding a sword.

So that's it.

That's just my version of Archangel Micheal.

- [Narrator] Wagner also experiences that sense of creative freedom when she paints.

- I paint mainly because nobody tells me what to paint.

I can do it in my own style.

I did a series of big cat paintings, with in mind to educate people on how endangered they are.

I gave part of the profit to a big cat sanctuary run by Tippi Hedren.

That's my way of helping the world, helping people.

- [Narrator] And whether it be sculptures or paintings, what Wagner ultimately wants is that her works are not only viewed, but more importantly appreciated.

- If it's a painting, I want them to enjoy it.

If it's a sculpture, I hope it touches them.

In some way, what I want is to make people happy.

(uplifting music)