A Few New Things We’re Working on
Notre Dame Art by Paul Kamish
Soaring Legacy
The First Women of Notre Dame
Their courage took flight here, shaping every generation that followed
A monumental bronze and glass sculpture for the First Women of Notre Dame
Concept Overview
“Soaring Legacy” is an ascending composition of five butterflies—each marking a decade since the first women arrived at Notre Dame and embodying the themes of transformation, unity, progress, generational legacy, and enduring impact. They spiral upward in graceful motion, their wings filled with molten glass inlays of golden amber, deep red, and Notre Dame blue.
Early Support & Next Steps
We’re hopeful that Soaring Legacy will eventually become a full-scale installation in the Butterfly Garden, but there are key steps and approvals ahead. Right now, the priority is creating the first full prototype.
To begin, we’re offering a pre-order of 20 Artist Proofs — smaller bronze versions of the monumental piece. These early commitments directly fund the design, sculpting, engineering, and fabrication of the prototype. Additional limited-edition bronzes will follow, but these first 20 are what get the project moving.
If you’d like to learn more or explore being part of the early group, feel free to reach out.
Our Lady's Butterfly Garden
A Gift to the Notre Dame Family from the Class of 1976
Artist Paul Kamish — History with the University of Notre Dame
Artist Paul Kamish has maintained a longstanding creative relationship with the University of Notre Dame, producing a significant body of work anchored in sculptural storytelling, campus landmarks, and the legacy of Fighting Irish athletics.
In 2008, Kamish unveiled The Spirit Collection, a series of high-relief sculptures featuring four iconic Notre Dame symbols: The Golden Dome, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, The Grotto, and The Four Horsemen. Each was created in two sizes, including limited editions, with the first copies gifted to respected Notre Dame leaders such as Fr. Jenkins, Fr. Rocca, Fr. Hesburgh, and Chuck Lennon.
During this period, Kamish also collaborated with Coach Charlie Weis on fundraising efforts benefiting Hannah and Friends.
In 2010, the University of Notre Dame commissioned Kamish to recreate the sculpture of Our Mother that crowns the Golden Dome. His 42-inch bronze, gilded in 23.75k gold, is now on display in two locations: the Development Offices and the Morris Inn.
The following year, in 2011, Kamish created the Rudy Award for Rudy Ruettiger and the Kelly Award for the Kelly Cares Foundation—with awards presented to Regis Philbin and Tim Brown at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
In 2019, Kamish released the 15-inch limited edition bronze version of Our Mother, followed by a 16-inch bronze of Fr. Sorin in 2021.
In 2022, he collaborated with Jim Lefebvre and the Knute Rockne Memorial Society on a project commemorating the 1924 Notre Dame National Champions. A study print from this project now hangs beside Kamish’s Four Horsemen sculpture in the lobby of the Eck Visitors Center. The project moved through detailed study drawings and into Phase II with the creation of an 8-foot maquette that includes Knute Rockne.
In early 2024, Kamish completed two limited edition versions of Knute Rockne—one cast-resin and one lost-wax bronze.
By 2025, Kamish expanded his Four Horsemen portfolio, producing three new limited-edition lost-wax bronze sculptures:
- Two versions based on the original Spirit Collection relief displayed at the Eck Visitors Center
- One entirely new, hand-sculpted reinterpretation of the Four Horsemen
That same year, Kamish partnered with The History Museum in South Bend to create a major Rockne-themed installation opening in August 2025, featuring two enlarged busts of Knute Rockne derived from Kamish’s original sculptures.
New Works, New Studio, and Expanding Vision
In addition to the Four Horsemen and Rockne projects, Kamish continues to develop new Notre Dame–inspired works, including Soaring Legacy, a monumental bronze-and-glass concept honoring the First Women of Notre Dame.
This new era of creativity aligns with the launch of Kamish Studios, a company focused on producing:
- Monumental large-scale sculptures
- High-end bronze editions
- More accessible collectible pieces
- Custom commissions
- Notre Dame–focused limited editions
Kamish Studios blends traditional craftsmanship with modern technology—including digital sculpting, 3D scanning, and advanced production workflows.
To explore what we do, visit: kamishstudios.com