The Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens of Winnipeg
A World-Renowned Sculptor’s Life Preserved in His Works
Jul 23, 2009
The summer of 2009 marked the end of an era for the city of Winnipeg when Leo Mol, the world-famous sculptor who had made the mid-sized Canadian city his home for decades, died on July 4th. His legacy to the city remains in over three hundred bronze and ceramic sculptures displayed in the garden bearing his name, but he will also be remembered around the world for the sculptures he created.
The Life and Art of Leo Mol
As the Oseradok Ukrainian Association website describes, Leo Mol was born to an artistic family in 1915 in Ukraine as Leonid Molodozhanyn, the son of a potter. He learned many of his skills from his father, who taught him how to form clay into different shapes. Although the young Leonid considered studying painting, he eventually decided to pursue sculpture instead, studying in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) for four years before moving to The Hague, Netherlands, for further education. In 1948, he and his wife, Margareth, decided to find a new home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, arriving at the end of that year. The sculptor’s fame, however, soon spread far beyond the city to places around the world.
Leo Mol’s Worldwide Fame
Leo Mol became known for the lifelike figures he created from bronze, ceramic, and other materials. He often sculpted wildlife, religious subjects, or figures from Ukrainian history, but he also had commissions from such famous people as Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Among his most famous tributes to his heritage are three monuments to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, displayed in Washington, D.C, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Prudentopolis, Brazil.
Throughout his career, Mr. Mol supported the artistic vision for Canada and beyond, as the Oseradok website indicates. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, as well as the Ukrainian Artists Association of Canada and several other artistic organizations in Canada and beyond. In 1989, he was appointed to the Order of Canada, and he was greatly appreciated both in his home city and elsewhere. His sculptures continue to stand as monuments to his skill and dedication to art.
The Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens in Winnipeg
One of the largest collections of Leo Mol sculptures is in Winnipeg, the city he chose to call home. When the artist donated over 300 sculptures to the city, officials and park planners created the Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens in Assiniboine Park, one of Winnipeg’s largest parks and home to the zoo, the English Gardens, and many other attractions. The Partners in the Park website tells of the garden’s popularity, bringing in local people for weddings, other special events, and photography, but also attracting visitors from other parts of Canada and around the world. Thousands of people have visited the Gardens to see the work of the famous sculptor, and they will likely continue to go for years to come.
Leo Mol’s death might be end of an era, but his influence as an artist will live on through his sculptures. In Winnipeg and around the world, people will continue to remember the Ukrainian-Canadian sculptor whose gifts enriched the artistic community, museums around the world, and his chosen home city.
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