Born July 13, 1912 in Washington Heights, New York
Passed away June 19, 1996, in Sarasota, Florida
Talented young artist right out of college in 1935 designed and created the Heisman Memorial Trophy, the most famous and coveted individual award in American athletics today.
Early Years
Frank was born in Washington Heights, N.Y. and grew up during the Depression. Even though his family had little money, they indulged Frank in his artistic pursuits. As a child, Frank worked with candle wax drippings to sculpt and create things of beauty.
He had his first one-man show (age 17) in 1929. In 1938, he shaped tiny figures for the Diorama Corp. of America for the World's Fair. He graduated from Pratt Institute in 1931 and from New York Teacher's College in 1942. He received his permanent teaching status at the School of Industrial Arts in New York City in 1946.
In 1935, Frank had a one man show at the Clay Club Gallery in NYC. The catalog had a dedication by Rudulph Evans that was very prophetic. "Frank Eliscu makes his solo debut with youth and the long horizon as his happy assets. He makes a creditable showing with his present exhibit. His flexible, versatile talent speaks with freshness and spontaneity through clay, wax, wood, plaster and bronze. While his work holds due respect for the traditions of the academic, there is however an abandoned sympathy for the contemporary. A sense of easy composition and a decorative expression is keenly evident in his work...Taken as a whole, there is every promise of a conspicuously intelligent and mature artist. May the blossoms of today become fruits tomorrow. Bon Voyage and all good wishes to you, Frank Eliscu."
Middle Years
Frank was an Army veteran of WWII. Originally he was stationed in Virginia working in camouflage and maps for the Allied Invasion. Later he was moved to Pennsylvania when they learned that he was an artist in an unusual way. Soldiers that had been injured in the war and had large burns or missing facial parts were given a new face by the doctors but the scars were made more realistic by the techniques developed by Frank. He was so successful at this that they were reluctant to release him from the Army. After the war, the Eliscu's moved to Ossining, NY where Frank maintained a studio and commuted to NYC where he taught at the School of Industrial Art (now High School of Art & Design) for over 25 years.
Frank authored three texts, taught for over twenty years, was an officer with the National Sculpture Society in several capacities from 1953 to 1970 when he was president. He was involved in the sculpting of two National monuments. He won many awards and had many exhibits. He was elected as a full member to the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1967. His work was varied, but slate and bronze were his basic medium. Frank is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Art..
Later Years
Upon retirement, Frank moved to Sarasota, Florida (1976) where he continued to execute major commissions, many of which were for temples and churches as well as for several well known charitable organizations who asked him to make annual award sculptures for them. Of the Heisman Memorial Trophy he said, "It is not my best work but it turned out to be something like the Statue of Liberty. I always thought it was wonderful that I'll be able to leave something like this behind." He worked right until the time he passed away from a heart attack in 1996. He left behind hundreds of sketches and records of his work, many slates, bronzes, waxes and a history of his career in art that is very special.
A Farewell Message
Upon his passing, the National Sculpture Society printed an obituary which sums up the man and his work. "This was the passing of no ordinary man, nor ordinary sculptor. Eliscu was at home in many media, including bronze, stone, slate and glass. In all of these were apparent his outstandingly facile draftsmanship- vigorous, nervous, alive- whether used to decorate flat surfaces of his reliefs in slate or wax, or in the delineation of form in his sculpture in the round in clay, wax or bronze. He was an artist totally in love with his work. Frank Eliscu was electric, daring and brilliant. His contributions to his art, the National Sculpture Society, the National Academy of Design, and a generation of students are myriad. Although we grieve at his passing, we are heartened by the fact that we knew him as long as we did." Robert Weinman, 1996.
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Since his passing, Frank's bas-relief work has been included in a new book, Slate of Hand: Stone for Fine Art & Folk Art from Trafford Publishing.