Mister Barney Ford

This three-tiered bronze sculpture depicts various epochs in the life of Barney L. Ford, who advocated for his own freedom after being enslaved for the first 26 years of his life. Ford went on to become an entrepreneur with businesses in Chicago, Illinois; Chyenne, Wyoming; Denver, Colorado; and Breckenridge. Among his many businesses, Ford opened a chophouse in Breckenridge. In Denver, he worked to desegregate schools and pushed for Black male suffrage at the state and national levels. The piece is by Emanuel Martinez, an artist who fought alongside Cesar Chavez and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century.

Commissioned by the Town of Breckenridge.

emanuelmartinez.com