George Stanley (sculptor)

George Stanley (1903 – 1993) was an American sculptor best known for designing the Academy Award statuette, often called the "Oscar."

Stanley was born in Hubbard, Iowa and studied at the Otis Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design) in Los Angeles. While working as an art director for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), he was commissioned in 1928 by Louis B. Mayer, then head of MGM, to create a design for an award to be presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Stanley sculpted the figure of a knight holding a crusader's sword standing on a reel of film. The film reel featured five spokes representing the five original branches of the Academy: actors, directors, writers, technicians, and producers.

While Stanley designed the statuette, the mold for casting the first Oscars was created by Alex Smith. Stanley continued to work in sculpture after his contribution to the Academy Awards, creating public artworks and private commissions. His other works include the Muse of Music, Dance, Drama sculpture at the Hollywood Bowl, and the Portal of Discovery at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. His style often blended classical and modern influences.