Spokane artist Harold Balazs who created Richland art, dies at 89

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Celebrated artist Harold Balazs, whose large sculptures are displayed in cities across Washington, has died at his home north of Spokane.

Balazs died Saturday night at the age of 89.

Among his public works in Spokane are the Rotary Fountain at Riverfront Park, the Centennial Sculpture floating in the Spokane River near the convention center, and The Lantern on the river side of the INB Performing Arts Center. He also created public art in numerous other cities including Richland. According to the City of Richland, you can find his work inside the library, although it has no title, he was commissioned to create the brick relief in 1969. The piece was originally outside the Richland Public Library but moved to the interior as part of the 2009 renovation.

He also is said to have created the large wooden screens displayed in the Richland Federal building, along with a sculpture.

Balazs was born in 1928 and grew up Westlake, Ohio.

After his family moved to Spokane in the 1940s, he enrolled at Washington State College in Pullman and earned a fine arts degree.