Art Evolution Gallery Cochrane Exhibitions and Events

A Terrifying Obsession

Toller Cranston - The Legacy Paintings

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Exhibition Dates: November 16th 2023 - February 28th 2024

Location: Art Evolution Gallery, 208 1st St W, Cochrane

Contact: 403 851 4544, info@artevolution.com

A complicated and convoluted 8-year legal battle over the Toller Cranston estate has resulted in an historic judgement and a landmark legal decision that has become part of Canadian Estate Law history. At great personal and financial risk Toller's sister Phillippa Cranston Baran fought tirelessly to protect the legacy of Toller Cranston.

On January 24th 2015, Art Evolution president Christopher Talbot, international gallerist, long-time friend, and supporter of Toller announced to the World that Canadian icon, skating legend, and artist Toller Cranston had died of a massive heart attack. The New York Times headline read "Toller Cranston, the Nureyev of figure skating dies at 65", but in the final analysis Toller thought of himself simply as an artist and "Artist and Zero Tollerance" is the only descriptive etched into his gravestone in San Miguel Mexico.

Toller Cranston is famous throughout the World, both for his distinctive painting style as well as his immense contribution to the sport of figure skating. From the very beginning, Toller was an "artist who skated" rather than "a skater who became an artist." During his lifetime Toller created and sold over 20,000 paintings, an output that rivals Picasso.

Art Evolution has secured the remaining paintings of the estate along with the intellectual property rights that allow the production of limited-edition artworks.

Christopher Talbot is committed to preserving Tollers legacy and will continue to promote Toller's artwork through its galleries in Canada, Australia, and online. A portion of the proceeds will be in support of the "Toller Cranston Foundation" which among other things is focused on annual scholarships which will be administered through the Canadian Olympic foundation.

Art Evolution has mounted the largest Toller Cranston exhibition in history. "Toller Cranston, The Legacy Paintings" will be displayed in Alberta Canada from November 16th to February 28th 2024. The exhibition features a selection of the more than 100 paintings and three-dimensional artworks that Toller created.

About Art Evolution

Art Evolution is an International Fine Art company operating major exhibitions and public art installations around the World. Art Evolution represents many famous artists and is currently holding the largest Salvador Dali sculpture exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.

AboutPhillippa Cranston Baran

Phillippa Cranston Baran (BA, Queens University, MA, UCLA) is a media-savvy communicator, award-winning producer, writer, former university film professor and educator.

Her new book, Toller Cranston: Ice, Paint, Passion, published by Sutherland House will be released in February 2024.

About Toller Cranston

Toller made significant contributions to the artistic enrichment of Canadian culture for over five decades and is regarded as a Canadian Icon. Toller is widely acknowledged to have changed the sport of figure skating by introducing creativity, artistry, and expression.

He was Canadian National Champion six times (1971-1976), World and Olympic Bronze Medalist, and won the International Skating Association (ISU) Award for Most Creative Skater of the 20th Century. He is a member of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Toller received the Order of Canada in 1977, holds an Honorary Doctorate from Carleton University and is included in Canada's Walk of Fame.

Exhibition dates: November 16th 2023 – February 28th 2024Location: Art Evolution Gallery 208 -1st West Cochrane ST Alberta T4C-1B7Website: www.artevolution.com

Contact: To receive further information or to arrange an interview with Phillippa Cranston Baran and / or Christopher Talbot please email info@artevolution.com  

SOURCE art evolution .com inc

For further information: Art Evolution.com Inc, Christopher Talbot, 587-296-0506, christopher@artevolution.com

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“To be an artist one has to have a suspicious nature and the willingness to take enormous leaps of faith.”

- Toller Cranston

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“He is his own work of art,” The Globe and Mail, 2003.

He was fearless in expression, courageous in creativity, and innovative in interpretation. Toller had a determination, dedication and a desire to go where no skater had gone before.

Olympic Medalist, world renowned for his artistry, Toller Cranston brought freedom of expression to the sport of skating. Acclaimed as the most influential figure skater of the 20th century, Toller revolutionized skating. He took the sport to new heights. He inspired generations.

He was not only an artist on the ice. His paintings—colourful, flamboyant and intricate—continue to be sought by collectors all over the world.

He became a legend.

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“Artistry. Creativity. Passion. Those are three of the many characteristics that Toller Cranston held on and off the ice.”

-The Canadian Olympic Foundation

Toller Cranston Collection

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Toller Cranston - Canadian Icon
Toller Cranston Collection

Toller Cranston Collection

Canadian artist Toller Cranston, born April 20, 1949 was a Canadian figure... 

Toller Cranston Collection