(1928 - 2021)

O. V. Shaffer first studio was a converted cow barn in his hometown of Princeton, IL. For most of his career, Shaffer sculpted in the rural community of Clinton, WI and his artwork consists of steel and brass, welded or cast, and wood and cast concrete. Shaffer exhibited throughout the Midwest with major commissions in Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, Utah and Illinois.

Shaffer graduated from Beloit College, then after earning his masters degree from Michigan State University, he became an art educator.  He was an art professor at Olivet College then at Beloit. This lead him to become the  first director of Wright's Museum of Art, from 1955 to 1961. He left teaching and returned to his studio practice. 

He won the Governor’s Award in the Arts in Wisconsin in 1970. He was an early Arts/Industry artist in residence at Kohler Co., where he was allowed access to the foundry. 

Shaffer gifted a collection of his own sculptures and drawings to Kohler Foundation in 2012. Kohler Foundation preservation technicians have carefully cataloged, photographed and cleaned the collection. The artwork has found a home at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

"Don’t focus on labeling yourself as an artist, focus on what it is you really want to say how you’re going to say it." — O.V. Shaffer