Benoît D. Gilsoul was born in Namur, Belgium in 1914. After completing his primary studies and his Greek-Latin humanities, he entered the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts, the top Belgian Art College from which he graduated in 1938. During the six years at the Académie, Gilsoul acquired a solid artistic training. By 1933, he had already founded the secessionist art group: "L'Esquisse," an influential group of young artists in Belgium that developed into the group "Salon National des Jeunes Artistes" later on. In 1935, while still at the Académie, he collaborated in the design for the entrée Reine Astrid and the pavillon de la vie Catholique at the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium. During that same year, he also undertook an extensive study tour with Nicolas de Stael, a close friend and fellow student. Upon graduation from the Académie, Gilsoul traveled extensively in Italy, France and Spain painting and drawing continuously.

In 1958, he become président of the Association des Artistes Belges of which he still remain honorary président. In 1960, he was commissioned to execute the murals in the Salle de Réception of the Belgian Line in Antwerp. Also in 1960, the Belgian government sends him to the United States on a grant to study the artists' situation in that country. Gilsoul quickly fell in love with America and upon his return to Belgium decided to resettle in America with his family and became an American citizen in 1967. In 1960, he started extensively in the field of Stained Glass; along with his many other art media such as paintings, prints, tapestries, sculptures. He operated his own studio in New York where he created, designed and executed his work. Gilsoul is regarded today as one of the foremost authority in the field of Stained Glass.

Among the many outstanding works for which he is responsible, some stand out more than others:

• Benoît D. Gilsoul is also known for his works of art on paper, including charcoal on rice paper and various paintings.
• The "United Nations" sculpture and faceted glass windows in the Dag Hammarskjold overlooking the United Nations Plaza and facing the United Nations in New York, New York. The Tilman Chapel - 1963 - William Lescaze, Architect. (Sculpture epoxy stained glass - Windows depicting man's struggle for peace and brotherhood).
• The stained glass window interpreted from a sketch by Ben Shahn in Buffalo, New York.
  (Temple Beth Zion - 1967 - Marc Abramowitz, Architect.)
• A 200 square foot granite sculptured wall as well as tapestries, wooden sculptured reredo, Tabernacle, Stations of the Cross for the Church of St. John the Evangelist in New York, New York.
  (1973 - Anthony Genovese and Herbert Maddalene, Architects.)
• The stained glass windows for the Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
  (1964 - Edward Grey Halstead, Architects.)
• An epoxy sculptured window and Bronxze sculpture (façade) for the Church of St. John the Baptist facing Madison Square Garden in New York. New York.
  (Sculpture of Christ, which his called "Christ in the City".)
• Temple Israel of Greater Miami, Florida. made with slabs of glass molded at the Cristallerie Val St. Lambert in Belgium.
  (1970 - Kenneth Treister, Architect.)
• Richard J. Complex in Trenton, New Jersey, Four carved glass walls - 22' x 32' x 3/8".
  (Supreme Court of New Jersey - 1983 - Grad/Hiller, a joint venture of The Grad Partnership and The Hiller Group, Architects.)
• Romare Bearden MTA Subway, Benoît Gilsoul and Helmut Schardt translated Bearden's cityscape into faceted glass.
  (Artist - Romare Bearden, Untitled - 1982 - Westchester Square-East Tremont Avenue Subway Station, Bronxx, New York.)
• Stained Glass windows for the Chapel of Or Ami Congregation in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania - 1979.

Other works in this field, just as outstanding, can be found in Columbus, Ohio; Miami, Florida; Allentown, Pennsylvania; as well as most other major cities across America and abroad.

Gilsoul's works such as sculptures, prints, paintings, tapestries, etched glass, mosaics and other forms of art can be found in many private and public collections.

He recently had been asked to submit some of his works to be reproduced and included in a major book being published in West Germany on Modern Stained Glass.

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Exhibitions by Benoît Gilsoul

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Copyright © The Estate of Benoit Gilsoul, Artist, 2012. All rights reserved.