Sculptor and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Robert Klapper Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Dr Robert Klapper Surgeon by Day Sculptor by Night Apr 20, 2019 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post More than just a hobby for Dr. Klapper, sculpting is part of a lifelong passion for art. Meet Dr. Robert Klapper! He's an orthopaedic surgeon and co-director of the Cedars-Sinai Joint Replacement program. He also hosts his own weekend radio show on ESPN LA. He loves fixing bones, talking sports, and surfing the waves in Ventura. But he also has a passion for the arts—specifically, the art of sculpting. If you've visited his Beverly Boulevard office, you've no doubt seen his sculptures lovingly displayed in the waiting area. But how did this surgical pioneer become an avid sculptor? "People told me I was crazy to major in art, but I did it anyway." A lifelong love of art Dr. Klapper's favorite artist is Michelangelo and he's been a fan of his work as long as he can remember. He can rattle off fact after fact about the Italian Renaissance man. He draws inspiration from the artist and considers Michelangelo to be a mentor of sorts. "He's the best and I wanted to learn from the best," says Dr. Klapper, who owns dozens of books about the life and works of Michelangelo. Read: Orthopaedist Is Hip to the Ways of Saber-Toothed Cats This love of art followed Dr. Klapper to college, where he majored in art history before going on to medical school. "People told me I was crazy to major in art, but I did it anyway," Dr. Klapper says. Many years later and already established in his medical practice, he enrolled in a beginner's level rock carving class. He credits his wife Dr. Ellen Klapper with introducing him to the idea. "She said to me, 'You're a great surgeon and you really love this stuff—I bet you could be a great sculptor, too,'" says Dr. Klapper. "I had studied it all my life, but she put 2 and 2 together for me and encouraged me to actually try it myself." The spark was immediate and there was no turning back. That was 2 decades ago and since then he's sculpted more than 50 pieces, including one permanently on display on the 7th floor of Cedars-Sinai. Read: The Art Experience at Cedars-Sinai Homage to Michelangelo Each summer, Dr. Klapper takes a weeklong trip to Italy. It isn't to see the historic sites of Rome or indulge in Neapolitan pizza. He goes there to visit Carrara, home to one of the most famous marble quarries in the world. The marble Michelangelo used to sculpt David came from the white hills of Carrara. During the yearly pilgrimage, he rents a studio and spends 8 hours a day carving his Carrara marble. He doesn't use power tools because he wants to mirror the way Michelangelo worked. In the Newsroom: 2018: Advances in Orthopaedics, Surgery and Transplant Medicine "I use chisels and hammers just like he did," he says. "I can feel him guiding me when I'm working on a piece." Sculpting is more than just a hobby for Dr. Klapper. For him, it's an extension of his work as a doctor. "As a surgeon, I do a lot of reconstruction work fixing things ravaged by arthritis," he says. "I don't create the bones, the tendons, the ligaments—I'm just sculpting them." Tags Faces of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics In Our Community Faces of Cedars-Sinai Patient Stories Los Angeles Behind the Scenes Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility