A culpture by American artist Joseph A. Burlini (b 1937) measuring approximately 19 1/4 inches tall as a complete piece with the sculpture measuring approximately 15 1/2 inches. From a Chicago estate. Signed Joseph A. Burlini 1981 and 5/5. Thanks for looking.
A constructivist sculpture by American artist
Eldon Danhausen (1924 - 2006) measuring approximately 8 inches tall. From a Chicagoland estate. Thanks for looking.
Eldon Danhausen (1924 - March 22, 2006) was a prominent American sculptor and dedicated art educator based in Chicago, Illinois. He is widely remembered both for his public structural sculptures and his four-decade-long tenure teaching figure sculpting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
Early Life and Education:
Danhausen grew up in the "Thumb" region of Michigan, where he spent his childhood working on his parents' sugar beet farm. This early upbringing instilled in him a lifelong passion for gardening and working with his hands.
He pursued formal art training at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). In 1947, his talent earned him the prestigious James Nelson Raymond Foreign Traveling Fellowship, allowing him to expand his artistic perspective abroad.
Teaching Career:
In 1948, Danhausen joined the faculty at SAIC, where he served as an Associate Professor of Sculpture. Over a teaching career that spanned 44 years, he mentored generations of artists. Former students frequently recalled his distinct kindness and generosity; he was known to quietly welcome struggling young artists into his classes as non-paying students so they could access models and continue practicing their craft.
Artistic Style and Major Works:
As a sculptor, Danhausen worked fluidly across multiple mediums, producing bronze figures, stacked ceramic totems, and modern abstract brass and wood pieces. Between 1945 and 1960, his work was regularly featured in major national exhibitions, including the Art Institute of Chicagos Annual Shows, the Downtown Gallery in New York, and the San Francisco Museum of Art. [1] He received numerous accolades, including the Linde Co. prize in 1960 and a citation for art in architecture from the American Institute of Architects (Iowa Chapter) in 1963.
Some of his notable public and corporate commissions included:
150 N. Wacker Drive Building (Chicago, IL) Sculpture, 1971
Civic Center (New Orleans, LA) Sculpture, 1967
International Minerals & Chemical Corp. (Skokie, IL) Sculpture, 1960
WOC-TV Building (Davenport, IA) Sculpture, 1964
His work is preserved in permanent collections at institutions such as Roosevelt University in Chicago and the Hackley Art Gallery in Muskegon, Michigan.
The "Garden as Gallery" In his personal life, Danhausen combined his love for sculpture and horticulture to design a highly celebrated, innovative private garden at his home on North LaSalle Street in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.
Faced with a standard, flat urban plot, Danhausen engineered a multi-level landscape complete with hollow mounds, bonsai-style trees, and an ingenious water feature. Rather than removing an awkward downspout that blocked his view, he constructed two 14-foot black aluminum gutters that carried rainwater horizontally off the back of the house, letting it cascade two stories down into a custom concrete pond. His urban oasis became locally famous for its ability to make a small spatial footprint feel immense and breathtaking.
Death and Legacy: Eldon Danhausen passed away from lung cancer at his Chicago home on March 22, 2006, survived by his life partner, Andre van Ee.
Shortly after his passing, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the North Dearborn Association. A memorial fund established in his name was dedicated to casting a public sculpture from one of his original molds to be placed permanently in the North Dearborn neighborhood, celebrating his 40+ years of contribution to the community's local beautification.
Sources: AI generated based on various sources such as ArtPrice.