Retired University of Tennessee professor and sculptor Philip G. Nichols, 87, of Knoxville, died Feb. 19 at UT Medical Center. At his request, there will be no service.
According to his obituary, Mr. Nichols graduated from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree of fine arts. He joined the UT Art Department in 1961 and taught sculpture until his retirement. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
He has sculptures on display throughout the United States, including locally at the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Civic Coliseum courtyard and the UT Physics Building façade.
His stepson Steve Drevik posted: If you saw the exhibit at the KMA on the “Knoxville Seven,” he was the sculptor of the group, although he thought the hoopla about the Knoxville Seven was hooey. That was typical of his Midwestern modesty. I think if he had written his own obituary, he would just want it to say two words: “he died.” That’s kind of the way he saw things.
He was a farmer, soldier (where he developed a lifelong distaste for eggs), artist, voracious reader of history, father to two families, and husband for 43 years to my mother. We are all grateful for him and the time we had.