LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A new bust will soon be on display at the State Capitol and the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Civil rights leader and Omaha-native, Malcolm X, will be portrayed by a Lincoln artist.

Nathan Murray was selected amongst national artists to convey the Omaha native who will become the first African American in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Since then, Murray has spent hundreds of hours perfecting the details of the historic figure.

It’s bigger than just art for Nathan Murray, it’s an opportunity to educate Nebraskans on who Malcom X was.

“I hope they also can engage with the piece and that it’ll create interest in them learning a little bit more about what he did, what he stood for, and how important the work was,” said Murray.

Murray started the project in March by studying Malcolm X closely to understand the little details.

“I have to look at lots of photos and just study the dimensions of the face in order to capture that likeness, because that’s one of the hardest things to do is to really make something look like a person,” said Murray.

With a person as notable as Malcolm, it was important for Murray to be intentional on how he is posed.

He spoke with Malcolm’s daughter, in addition to others, on her desire that her father be portrayed doing the work of God.

“So originally, I had wanted to put Malcolm in a thoughtful pose. But after winning the commission, I came up with the idea of just bringing it out, like he’s in dialogue with the people that are looking at it,” said Murray.

The clay artist of 15 years wanted to depict Malcolm X in the stage of his life after he returned from Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

“I think that, from my opinion, his eyes were opened a little bit and, and he, he just came back, willing to work with anyone he wanted to continue the work he wanted to continue that fight for, for equality and justice,” said Murray.

Facial hair became a part of the activist’s signature look once he returned to the U.S.

What starts as wet clay will eventually become bronzed for its final state.

Patience has been a necessary skill for Murray during this process.

“So basically, if a crack starts happening, it means that it’s not just on the outside, usually, it’s, it’s usually all the way on the inside. So, there was a point where I had to just take the arm off, and I had to re kind of work the clay, and then stick it back together,” said Murray.

One of Murray’s favorite quotes from Malcolm X stays with him as he works on the piece.

I believe in human beings and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

Malcolm X will be the first African American inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

“When kids come to the State Capitol, they see all these busts representing these important Nebraskans. So, I think it’s really important, you know, that people will see somebody that looks like them, you know,” said Murray.

Once the piece is complete, it will be on display to view in the Nebraska Hall of Fame starting tentatively in May, Malcolm’s birth month.

You can learn more about Murray’s art on his Facebook page and Instagram @nathanmurraystudios.

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