1920–1995
Toronto Necropolis
Section E Lot 443
Kosso Eloul was born in Mourom, Russia. At age four, his family moved to Tel Aviv, Israel, where he began his artistic journey. In 1938, he studied under Israeli sculptor Yitzhak Danziger before moving to the United States in 1939 to attend the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago School of Design. There, he learned from renowned figures such as architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Bauhaus professor László Moholy-Nagy.
Between 1943 and 1948, Eloul served in World War II and the 1948 Palestine War. After returning to art, he developed his signature style – monumental geometric metal sculptures that balance strength and elegance. His works earned him commissions across Israel, Canada and the US. In 1959, he represented Israel at the 29th Venice Biennale, cementing his place on the international stage.
In 1962, Eloul met Canadian artist Rita Letendre in Italy. They married two years later and eventually settled in Toronto in 1969. Eloul became a central figure in Canada’s sculpture scene, organizing conferences and creating more than 40 works throughout Toronto. His iconic piece Meeting Place stands at the intersection of Bloor and Church Streets, while his Eternal Flame cauldron at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem honours Holocaust victims.
Eloul’s sculptures, often described as minimalist, transcend mere simplicity. Their gleaming surfaces and precarious angles evoke energy and motion, challenging viewers to rethink balance and space.
He rests in the Toronto Necropolis beside a granite monument he carved titled Onward.
Sources:
• Mount Pleasant Group – Kosso Eloul
• Cabbagetown People – Kosso Eloul
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Kosso Eloul
Photo: Talmoryair Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
