Members of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) community recently gathered on campus for the unveiling of a new sculpture honoring FNU’s century of service and education, as well as its ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality education that prepares nurses to become nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities. The sculpture, crafted by Kentucky artist Christine Kuhn, depicts a horse, a symbol emblematic of FNU.
The horse stands proudly outside of the FNU Community Center, welcoming students to campus. The art displayed on the horse marries past and present and includes images from the past 100 years of Frontier, with Kentucky wildflowers used as an overlay.
The statue pays tribute to both Kentucky’s rich equestrian heritage and FNU’s storied past, symbolizing Frontier’s 100-year legacy in the Commonwealth and the vital role horses played in its early history. In the early days of the Frontier Nursing Service, nurse-midwives and Couriers traveled on horseback to reach families in remote mountain communities, often crossing rugged terrain and streams. Their saddlebags carried the essential supplies needed to provide care during labor and birth, making the horse an enduring symbol of service, resilience, and dedication.
While Frontier’s horse sculpture is not officially part of the Horse Mania public art project in Lexington, her presence adds to the vibrant equine-themed art culture of the region. Horse Mania, organized by LexArts, features artist-painted horse statues displayed throughout the city and has become a beloved celebration of creativity and Kentucky’s deep-rooted connection to horses.
Based in Lexington, Kuhn is a muralist, sculptor, and mixed media artist whose work has been exhibited across the United States as well as in Ecuador, Bulgaria, and Venice, Italy. She has collaborated with the U.S. State Department and the Rock Paper Scissors Foundation, creating murals around the world, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Vietnam to her home state of Kentucky and surrounding regions. Her work is also featured in numerous private collections throughout Europe and the U.S.
