Hilary Clark Cole

Hilary Clark Cole was born in Victoria, British Columbia and is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design. She has lived and worked professionally in Muskoka since 1971. As well as having her work in many private collections, Clark Cole has created significant public sculptures over the years, providing works for the head offices of Stelco and Tilley Endurables and sites as Unionville High School for the Arts and the Bethune Memorial in Shi Cha Chuang, China. She created the prestigious bronze ARC Award for Cadillac-Fairview Corporation, which is awarded annually. Hilary has permanent installations locally in the Orillia Public Library, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, the Port Carling Library and the garden of the Town of Gravenhurst Municipal Offices. Recently she installed a collaborative work in the District of Muskoka Council Chambers in Bracebridge, Ontario. Clark Cole has won many awards for her work and one of her signature bustiers was recently added to MAC's permanent collection. She and her art has been profiled on television programs on the Life Channel, CBC and Global. She is a strong role model in her community and 2002 won the first YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture. Whether creating realistic, three-dimensional animals, such as Wolves - The Messengers, Grizzly Bears: Mother and Cubs, Northern Ontario Bull Moose, and the Chestnut Filly or more ethereal pieces such as Windswept Silhouette, a life-sized female figure combining the natural elements of rock and tree and intimate studies of bustiers, flowers and figures in bronze and steel, Clark Cole continues to explore her creative depths and to provoke deep-seated responses in viewers.