Outlaw
Richard Loffler
2008
Location: Fifth Avenue Place, 420 2 Street SW, Calgary, AB
About the work
Situated outside of Fifth Avenue Place in Calgary, Outlaw by Richard Loffler is a powerful tribute to both the city’s Western heritage and financial optimism. The sculpture was commissioned through the Bullish on Your Future art initiative – a partnership between the Calgary CFA Society, the CFA Institute, and the Calgary Stampede – which aimed to link the bull, a global financial symbol of growth and prosperity, with Calgary’s distinct cultural identity.
More than a metaphor, Outlaw is named after Canada’s most legendary rodeo bull. The real Outlaw, a red-and-white speckled Brahma born in 1997, weighed 1,800 pounds and became a Calgary Stampede icon. Known for his fierce power and untamable nature, Outlaw was ridden for a full 8 seconds only once in 71 trips out of the chute, by 21-year-old Justin Volz in 2002, earning him the $50,000 prize and the title of Calgary Stampede Bull Riding Champion.
Loffler’s sculpture captures the intensity of this legacy: a cowboy mid-ride on a bucking bull, frozen in a moment of raw energy and risk. Outlaw stands as a lasting symbol of Calgary’s spirit: bold, resilient, and forward-looking.
Outlaw, 2008
Bronze
About the artist
Richard Loffler is a Canadian sculptor renowned for his lifelike bronze works that capture the spirit of wildlife and Western culture. Loffler draws inspiration from the natural world and his deep respect for animals, ranching, and the rodeo tradition. His sculptures are celebrated for their anatomical precision, dynamic movement, and emotional intensity. With works featured across North America, Loffler continues to preserve and celebrate prairie and cowboy heritage through powerful, enduring forms.