Ellie Shuster’s passion is portraiture – working from photographs to sculpt original portraits in clay, then casting each piece in cold-cast bronze in her Edmonton studio.

Her work can be found in private collections in the US, Europe and across Canada. Nelson Mandela is part of a collection in the Alchemist Gallery in Scotland, and Professor Stephen Hawking’s family owns the portrait she created for his 75th birthday. She is represented by galleries in Alberta and BC.

Largely self-taught, Ellie began sculpting in 2000. Her work is rooted in the belief that there is an important place for three-dimensional, tactile sculpture among the graphic art on every collector’s walls.

Ellie is currently President of the Sculptors’ Association of Alberta.

Ellie Shuster’s passion is portraiture – working from photographs to sculpt original portraits in clay, then casting each piece in cold-cast bronze in her Edmonton studio.

Her work can be found in private collections in the US, Europe and across Canada. Nelson Mandela is part of a collection in the Alchemist Gallery in Scotland, and Professor Stephen Hawking’s family owns the portrait she created for his 75th birthday. She is represented by galleries in Alberta and BC.

Largely self-taught, Ellie began sculpting in 2000. Her work is rooted in the belief that there is an important place for three-dimensional, tactile sculpture among the graphic art on every collector’s walls.

Ellie is currently President of the Sculptors’ Association of Alberta.

For many years, I have committed myself to portraiture... the study of the face and its expressions. Working with clay to capture the nuances, my fingers and tools have explored every line, depression and ridge that brings out the spark of personality that makes a portrait recognizable or compelling.

As a portrait artist, I have focused on realism. It has always been important to me to depict what I see as closely as possible. From my mold emerges the portrait of a fully-formed personality, encapsulated in bronze. Solid. Lustrous. Classic.

But what of the depth of character that can’t be seen in this traditional portrait? What of the memories and experiences that have shaped that personality? How does one sculpt the unknown... the unknowable... the abstraction?

My Fractured Faces series of portraits uses my molds to create fragile casts which break in their own way to present an abstracted characterization of the personality they represent. The goal is not to depict the individual, but to personify the unknowable – the depth – the fragility of the individual. Every Fractured Face emerges from its mold with its own story to tell. Each is unique and evokes a different response from every viewer.

For many years, I have committed myself to portraiture... the study of the face and its expressions. Working with clay to capture the nuances, my fingers and tools have explored every line, depression and ridge that brings out the spark of personality that makes a portrait recognizable or compelling.

As a portrait artist, I have focused on realism. It has always been important to me to depict what I see as closely as possible. From my mold emerges the portrait of a fully-formed personality, encapsulated in bronze. Solid. Lustrous. Classic.

But what of the depth of character that can’t be seen in this traditional portrait? What of the memories and experiences that have shaped that personality? How does one sculpt the unknown... the unknowable... the abstraction?

My Fractured Faces series of portraits uses my molds to create fragile casts which break in their own way to present an abstracted characterization of the personality they represent. The goal is not to depict the individual, but to personify the unknowable – the depth – the fragility of the individual. Every Fractured Face emerges from its mold with its own story to tell. Each is unique and evokes a different response from every viewer.