Lee Lawrie was born in Rixdorf, Germany, in 1877, and came to America with his family at the age of four. Very early in life he demonstrated artistic ability and at one time worked in the studio of Beaux Arts sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. A self-taught sculptor, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Yale and taught there until 1919. He began working with Goodhue in 1895, his specialization in architectural sculpture complemented Goodhue's early Gothic revival designs. The reredos (carved stone altar screen) in St. Thomas Church in New York is an important example of his collaboration with Goodhue which culminated in the exterior sculpture of the Capitol in Lincoln. Goodhue and Lawrie had a vision of the exterior sculpture for the Capitol being an integral part of the architecture. Lawrie's figures are engaged with the building, not separate and free standing, their form coming from the stone, buttresses and pylons of the building face. With his work for Nebraska, Lawrie brought architectural sculpture into the modern era. Later work on Rockefeller Center continued this modern emphasis. From 1921-1954 Lawrie received eight national architectural and sculptural awards. He died in 1963, one of America's foremost architectural sculptors.

"The Sower" by Lee Lawrie   Atop the 400 foot tower of the Nebraska State Capitol stands the Sower, a figure casting the seeds of life to the winds. Lee Lawrie's statue is modeled after the traditional method of hand sowing grain for planting, and is a symbol of the importance of Agriculture to the development of civilization. Agriculture being the foundation upon which Nebraskans have built a noble life. The 19 1/2 foot tall figure stands on a pedestal of shocks of wheat and corn. Lawrie represents this timeless symbol of Agriculture as a barefoot man, shirt sleeves and pant legs rolled up as he works, wearing a sun hood. The 3/8 inch thick bronze sculpture is reinforced by an interior steel framework and weighs nearly 9 1/2 tons.