Born in Rochester, New York, Karl Gruppe was a sculptor in marble and bronze and held the position of chief Sculptor of Monument Restoration Project for the New York City Parks Department. Away from the city, he shared at studio with his brother, landscape painter Emile Gruppe, at Rocky Neck, Massachusetts.
n 1980 Karl H. Gruppe was awarded the National Sculpture society's "Special Medal of Honor" for his "notable achievement in, and for encouragement to American Sculpture." Previous honorees included Daniel Chester French, Herbert Adams, Paul Manship, Adolph A. Weinman, James Earle Fraser, and Malvina Hoffman.
