Who Is Oscar Leon? Meet the Sculptor Under Fire for the Latest Dwyane Wade Project & His Bold Response

It was a historic moment for Miami Heat fans on October 27, as Dwyane Wade's career was immortalized in an 8-foot bronze statue at the Kaseya Center. Capturing Wade's iconic "This is my house" pose from 2009, the tribute instantly took fans back to that electrifying double-overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls. But as excitement rippled through Miami, something else caught everyone's attention—the statue itself. While undeniably powerful, many fans, and even a few basketball legends, raised questions about whether it truly captured Wade's likeness.

Studio Rotblatt Amrany, which also created statues of NBA icons like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, crafted the D-Wade statue. Led by Oscar Leon and Omri Amrany, the studio has brought over 300 bronze sculptures to life. While Julie Rotblatt Amrany worked on Jordan and Bryant's statues, Leon played a key role in Wade's. With such an impressive portfolio, fans expected nothing less than perfection. Yet, this time, not everyone was thrilled. So let's explore the artist behind the D-Wade statue.

Oscar Leon immersed himself in art early in his life Oscar Leon, founder of Sculpture Resource, discovered his passion for the arts early on and has followed it with intense dedication. By the time he was eighteen, he was already diving into the world of fine art, studying oil painting at Chicago's Palette & Chisel Academy. But it wasn't just painting; Oscar also studied figurative sculpture and stone carving with acclaimed sculptor Susan Clinard.

His journey didn't stop there. To expand his skills, Oscar took up welding and metal fabrication at the Evanston Art Center, a decision that would give him the technical skills to craft intricate armatures for his future sculptures.

Years later, in 2001, Oscar joined forces with renowned sculptors Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany at the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany. This was a transformative period for him. At just 24, he began working professionally, tackling complex public art projects and teaching at the studio's art colony.

Alongside sculpting, Oscar handled the crucial tasks of armature fabrication and mold-making for hundreds of projects. To further hone his expertise, he even completed a pre-med anatomy program at Chicago's Cortiva Institute, which deepened his knowledge of human anatomy and enriched his sculpting technique. So what are his most famous works?

His Famous works One of Oscar Leon's notable projects at Rotblatt Amrany was sculpting baseball legend Nellie Fox of the Chicago White Sox. Unveiled in 2006 at Sox Park, the sculpture stands alongside a statue of Fox's teammate, Luis Aparicio, both celebrated for their roles in the 1959 "Go-Go Sox." The unveiling ceremony saw Nellie's wife and daughter in attendance, adding an emotional touch to the event.

Then, in 2011, Oscar co-created a life-sized bronze sculpture of Frank Thomas, aka "The Big Hurt." Thomas, known for his iconic one-handed swing, captures mid-follow-through, wearing his signature smile. Oscar and his team worked closely with Thomas to ensure an authentic likeness, creating a piece that celebrates Thomas's legacy with the White Sox.

After teaming up with sculptor Omri Amrany, Leon took on the challenge of creating a white bronze statue of hockey legend Bobby Hull. Set up at the Community Ice Rink in Cicero, Illinois, this piece holds a special place—it's actually Hull's second statue in the Chicagoland area. This new sculpture embodies Hull's legacy, capturing his energy on the ice in a striking tribute that fans in Cicero and beyond can appreciate.

Then, there was the unforgettable moment on March 2, 2019, when Leon and his team from Sculpture Resource joined the crowd in Los Angeles for the unveiling of David Beckham's statue. The event took place at the LA Galaxy's home opener at Dignity Health Sports Park, bringing fans together to celebrate Beckham's impact on U.S. soccer. F

or this project, artist Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, founders of the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany, hired Sculpture Resource, to create the molds that would bring Beckham's clay likeness to life in bronze. Oscar, along with artists Jessica LoPresti and Dario Garcia, meticulously applied layers of rubber and plaster to capture every detail of the original clay. But what did Leon have to say about all the criticism for Wade's statue?

As per Oscar Leon, people "misunderstood" the statue Criticism poured in, with voices like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal joining fans in questioning the statue's authenticity. In response, Leon opened up about the intricate process, emphasizing how the statue started from a set of photos of Wade that eventually took shape as a clay model. Computers then helped finalize the design, blending technology and craftsmanship. However, according to Leon, critics simply "misunderstood" the statue.

Leon shared that Wade's close friends and Miami Heat execs gave feedback during the process. "To the critics, there's a lot that needs to be understood," he said. "We have to seal everything to keep the integrity of the sculpture, which does create a funny little side effect of being glossy."

However, this wasn't just an easy project for Leon and co.—it took over 800 hours to complete, with 16 of those spent directly with Wade. "The sealer definitely creates a little bit of, um, a misunderstanding to the eye. So, I would definitely encourage everyone to come to Miami and view it in person," Leon said, inviting fans to see the statue up close.