Florence Wyle
Encyclopedia
Florence Wyle was an American-born Canadian
sculptor and designer
. She practiced chiefly in Toronto
, living and working with her partner sculptor Frances Loring. She co-founded the Sculptors' Society of Canada
with Alfred Laliberté
, Florence Wyle, Elizabeth Wyn Wood
, Wood's teacher and husband Emanuel Hahn
and Henri Hébert.
, USA, and moved to Toronto
in 1913. She studied modelling and sculptural design in the USA under Frances Loring.
From 1913 - 1968 she worked as a sculptor in clay, plasticine, stone and wood. Most of her carvings were executed by herself.
. Their home was a mecca for artists of their time.
1926 - St. Stephen War Memorial
1957 - Mother and Children, Canadian National Exhibition
made Wyle an Honourary Academician naming her one of the Top 100 Artists of the 20th Century.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
sculptor and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
. She practiced chiefly in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, living and working with her partner sculptor Frances Loring. She co-founded the Sculptors' Society of Canada
Sculptors' Society of Canada
The Sculptors Society of Canada promotes and exhibits contemporary Canadian sculpture.Founded by Canadian sculptors Frances Loring, Florence Wyle, Elizabeth Wyn Wood, Wood's teacher and husband Emanuel Hahn, Henri Hébert and Alfred Laliberté, the Sculptors Society of Canada has been exhibiting...
with Alfred Laliberté
Alfred Laliberté
Alfred Laliberté was a Canadian sculptor and painter based in Quebec. His output includes more than 900 sculptures in bronze, marble, wood, and plaster. Many of his sculptures depict national figures and events in Canada and France like Louis Hebert, François-Xavier-Antoine Labelle, Adam Dollard...
, Florence Wyle, Elizabeth Wyn Wood
Elizabeth Wyn Wood
Elizabeth Wyn Wood was a Canadian sculptor, born in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.Wood studied sculpture at the Ontario College of Art and at the Art Students League of New York...
, Wood's teacher and husband Emanuel Hahn
Emanuel Hahn
Emanuel Otto Hahn was a German-born Canadian sculptor and coin designer. He taught and later married Elizabeth Wyn Wood. He co-founded and was the first president of the Sculptors' Society of Canada....
and Henri Hébert.
Education and training
Wyle was born in Trenton, IllinoisTrenton, Illinois
Trenton is a town in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,184 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Trenton is located at ....
, USA, and moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1913. She studied modelling and sculptural design in the USA under Frances Loring.
From 1913 - 1968 she worked as a sculptor in clay, plasticine, stone and wood. Most of her carvings were executed by herself.
Private life
Wyle lived an open life with her same-sex partner Frances Loring in a converted church/schoolhouse they bought together in Moore Park, TorontoMoore Park, Toronto
Moore Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It lies along both sides of St. Clair Avenue East between the Vale of Avoca section of Rosedale ravine and Moore Park ravine . The northern boundary is Mount Pleasant Cemetery and the southern the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks.The...
. Their home was a mecca for artists of their time.
Career and official commissions
Wyle preferred architectural projects that were large in scale compared to her partner Frances Loring.1926 - St. Stephen War Memorial
1957 - Mother and Children, Canadian National Exhibition
Posthumous honour
In 2000 the Canadian Portrait AcademyCanadian Portrait Academy
The Canadian Portrait Academy , is a professional Canadian art academy dedicated to the practice and appreciation of portraiture within Canada and abroad.-History:...
made Wyle an Honourary Academician naming her one of the Top 100 Artists of the 20th Century.