His work was part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

He made extra money as an artists' model, and became interested in studying sculpture.

He served a 7-year apprenticeship under University of Pennsylvania professor and sculptor R. Tait McKenzie.

He began teaching a sculpting course in 1939, became a resident artist at the university, and was made a full professor of art in 1962.

[9] While at Princeton in 1950, he began experimenting with structures for children to engage in active, cooperative play, which was a radical shift in thinking at the time.