Toller Cranston

Art Brokerage: Toller Cranston Canadian Artist: b. 1945-2015. Toller was born in Hamilton, Ontario and grew up in Cambridge and in Kirkland Lake. He finished high school in Montreal and won one of fifty spots to attend the École des Beaux-Arts. He left the school early when one of his professors told him there was nothing more they could teach him. Toller knew what he wanted. He moved to Toronto to train with legendary skating coach Ellen Burka and to paint and paint and paint. He had his first solo show well before his twentieth birthday. After years of skating—Olympics, world championships, Ice Capades, theatre and television …he left Toronto for San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in Mexico's central highlands. This UNESCO world heritage site is known for its baroque Spanish architecture, thriving arts scene and cultural festivals. Toller bought an estate with a garden paradise on which he lived, worked and created until his fatal heart attack on January 23, 2015 at the age of 65. In addition to creating thousands of oil paintings and exquisite line drawings, Toller experimented with materials beyond canvas—painting on ostrich eggs, wooden religious statues and furniture. He designed enormous elaborate chandeliers in metal and blown glass. He created a series of handwoven carpets. He organized a fashion show of hand-painted leather jackets and trench coats. He released a series of limited edition silk scarves. Toller went through periods of inspiration and creativity in which various themes emerged, like his obsession with strawberries that began in the 70's. His Imperial Russian series was inspired by a visit to Moscow's Kremlin. There he was exposed to the opulence of Russian elites. Seeing wonders like Catherine the Great's wedding dress made of spun silver and ecclesiastical garments encrusted with staggering numbers of pearls and gems had a profound influence on his artwork. By the end of his life, he had guaranteed his legacy in Canada and around the world. A prolific artist, Toller had accomplished over two hundred and fifty solo art shows internationally. He was a member of the Order of Canada and has been memorialized on Canada's Walk of Fame, in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Listings wanted.