Born in Holdrege, Nebraska, George Lundeen has become a nationally known sculptor of realistic figures. He achieved the status of full Academician of the National Academy of Design in New York, which is the highest professional recognition bestowed on visual arts in America.

One of his best known pieces is the seated, life-size figure in bronze of Benjamin Franklin at the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia. He also has work at the Capital Rotunda in Washington DC. and in 2001, his sculpture Thomas Jefferson was dedicated at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Lundeen served as the 2001 Thomas Jefferson Distinguished Visiting Lecturer and participated in the unveiling of the Jefferson sculpture.