Anne Kahane (1924 - 2023): A legacy carved in art and education

Anne Kahane, a revered sculptor, and an esteemed former professor in Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts, passed away on September 29, 2023. She was 99.

Born in Austria, Kahane was a proud Canadian. She left a mark on the world of art, in Montreal and beyond, with her sculptural work and her famous figures carved in wood.

Kahane began her artistic journey with night classes at École des Beaux Arts de Montréal, where she studied traditional sculpture. She furthered her education at the Cooper Union Art School in New York, exploring architecture, industrial design, commercial art, and wood carving.

In the late 1940s and 1950s, Kahane emerged as one of the few active women sculptors in Canada, specializing in wood and creating ambitious figurative works. In 1965, she became the inaugural sculptor hired by Alfred Pinsky for Concordia's new Arts Department, a role she held until 1980. Following that, she continued to share her knowledge at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Anne garnered numerous national and international accolades, earning her place as the first Canadian woman sculptor at the Venice Biennale in 1958. Her maquette for The Unknown Political Prisoner Monument won acclaim in a London-based competition organized by the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1953, solidifying her status as a sculptor of international renown.

Anne's artwork, celebrated both nationally and globally, found its place at prominent events and venues, including the Venice Biennale, Expo 67 in Montreal, and the Brussels World's Fair.

She received prestigious commissions, leaving an enduring legacy through sculptures like "Mother and Child" at Montreal's Rockland Plaza and "Captain F.J. Stevenson" for the Winnipeg International Airport.

As an educator, Anne imparted her wisdom to countless students during her tenure at Concordia from 1965 to 1980. Even in her later years as a resident sculptor at McMaster University (1980-1982), she continued to innovate, exploring flat structural techniques using flexible materials.

Her passing marks the end of an era in the world of sculpture, but her commitment to the arts and her impact on the artistic landscape will be remembered and her spirit will continue to inspire generations to come.