Constance Ramsey Bowden is an internationally acclaimed bronze figurative sculptor and Founder of Manchester Studios RVA, a hub of Classical Realism instruction in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Known for her teaching expertise and technical mastery, Ms. Bowden excels at capturing a precise likeness and the subtle nuances of individual expression that resonate with our shared humanity. As an instructor, she is recognized for her relaxed, approachable manner, putting students at ease, even those who have never before touched clay.
Manchester Studios, RVA is an Art Renewal Center "Approved Atelier," recognizing Ms. Bowden’s life-long commitment to the highest caliber of instruction in the tradition of classical realism.
Ms. Bowden studied figurative sculpture at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy under renowned instructors Robert Bodem, Maudie Brady, Mitch Shae, Eran Webber, and Eudald de Juana Gorriz.
She received a BFA with Highest Honors in Sculpture from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She completed a three-year apprenticeship in violin making at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and studied bronze casting for five years at the Johnson Atelier Institute of Sculpture Technology in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
Ms. Bowden has accepted bronze commissions from private collectors, schools, and churches. Her notable bronze commissions include "Flight" (1979), "Music" (1982), "Flocks" (1986), "Baby Mary" (1997), "Journey" (2001), and "Mother and Child" (2004). Her work is represented in collections throughout the United States and internationally.
Recent recognition includes two sculptures awarded "Finalist" in the Art Renewal Center International Salon in 2018 ("Dark Remembrance" and "Past Present") and one Finalist award in 2019 ("Premonition"). She received an Honorable Mention from The Salmagundi Club in New York City for her sculpture "Brianne" in 2024.
Ms. Bowden was invited as a guest speaker at the FACE Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia in 2019, and her work has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine.
