Florence Wyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence Norma Wyle
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| Born | 1881 |
| Died | 1968 Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
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| Nationality | American-Canadian |
| Education | Frances Loring |
| Known for | Sculptor and designer |
| Movement | Neo-Classical |
| Partner(s) | Frances Loring |
| Patron(s) | Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook |
Florence Wyle RCA (born November 14, 1881 – died January 14, 1968) was an amazing American-Canadian sculptor, designer, and poet. She was a pioneer in Canadian art, meaning she was one of the first important artists to shape the art scene there. She mostly worked in Toronto, Canada. For almost 60 years, she lived and worked with her partner, Frances Loring, sharing a studio and home.
In 1928, Florence helped start the Sculptors' Society of Canada. She did this with Frances Loring, Alfred Laliberté, Elizabeth Wyn Wood, Emanuel Hahn, and Henri Hébert. Florence was also the first woman sculptor to become a full member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Throughout her career, she and Frances Loring worked hard to get better policies, tax benefits, and fair pay for artists.
Her Life and Art Training
Florence Wyle was born in Trenton, Illinois, USA. In 1900, she started studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was planning to become a doctor. However, her anatomy classes made her fascinated by the human body.
Three years later, in 1903, she moved to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. There, she began learning how to sculpt with clay from a teacher named Lorado Taft. She also studied sculpting and design in the USA under Frances Loring.
In 1913, Florence moved to Toronto, Canada. She joined Frances Loring, who had moved there the year before. Florence worked as a sculptor using materials like clay, plasticine, stone, and wood. She continued creating art until she passed away in 1968. She did most of her carvings herself.
Florence was a member of several important art groups. These included the Ontario Society of Artists (from 1920 to 1933, and again from 1948), the Sculptors Society of Canada (from 1933), and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (she became an associate in 1920 and a full member in 1938). She was also part of the Canadian Guild of Potters.
Her Career and Famous Works
Florence Wyle liked to create large sculptures, especially for buildings. These were often bigger than the projects her partner, Frances Loring, preferred. Florence became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
Her art was often shown by the Women's Art Association of Canada. When she was 80 years old, she created small wooden figures. These were part of the trophies for the Dominion Drama Festival.
One of her pieces is at the Ontario Veterinary College. It's a large, flat sculpture called a bas-relief panel. It is 13 feet high and shows farm animals. Pearl McCarthy, an art critic for the Globe and Mail newspaper, once said that Florence Wyle's sculptures, whether big or small, of cats or heroes, had a beautiful and classic feel to them.
Some of her well-known works include:
- 1926 – St. Stephen War Memorial
- 1957 – Mother and Children, at the Canadian National Exhibition
Special Recognition
In the year 2000, the Canadian Portrait Academy gave Florence Wyle a special honor. They named her one of the Top 100 Artists of the 20th Century.
See also
In Spanish: Florence Wyle para niños
