De L'Esprie
by Gordon Durich
The name De L’Esprie may not be a familiar to you, but she is one of the most visible and prolific local artists in the Los Angeles uptown area. From her Westlake Village studio, De L’Esprie creates world-class masterpieces. The renowned sculptor welcomed CSQ writer Gordon Durich into her studio to talk art, community and the business of creating impactful and enduring work.
Canadian-born De L’Esprie, whose name means “for the spirit” in French, was raised near Montreal, Quebec. She expressed her interests in the visual arts at a young age as she painted on the baseboards beneath her bed in secret. “My family did not even know they were there until we moved!” Her focus and interest in art further developed from there. “As a little girl, I prayed and I actually asked God to help me become a great sculptor.” As a teenager, De L’Esprie kayaked on the St.Lawrence Seaway, and as she did so, she collected clay from the banks of the canal. Her first sculpting models were of Native Americans from a Mohawk reservation in that river region.
The young De L’Esprie grew into a striking, passionate woman, and realized with some chagrin that she may not be able to make a living from her art. So she studied other subjects. “In Canada, my degree major was in Business. I also studied Advertising and Counseling. At first, I really wanted to work in travel or in the airline industry, so I could travel around the world.” De L’Esprie did achieve her ambition to travel professionally, and worked for some years as a flight attendant for Air Canada.
Her life changed completely in 1981. Having developed commercial relationships in the United States, the artist was offered an opportunity to become associated with a art foundry located in Westlake Village, California. The rest as they say, is history.
The first sale of one of her works was, as De L’Esprie excaims, “Incredible and so exciting! It was a piece I actually created on my kitchen table!” The commission was from producer Michael Wayne, the son of film star John Wayne. “Michael commissioned a sculpture of Crazy Horse, from the Sioux Ogallala tribe. I was ecstatic that I was being commissioned!”
Locally, De L’Esprie’s work is ubiquitous. The spirited “Joy to Life” graces the fountain at the Promenade, in Westlake Village. A reclining little bronze boy, titled “Anything But Homework” also makes his home at the shopping center. More animated bronze figures of children and animals play in a boat and in the water at the Commons at Calabasas shopping center.
In Thousand Oaks, De L’Esprie’s creations can be found frolicking in the sand at The Lakes on Thousand Oaks Boulevard just near the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The common theme among the life-like figures depicted at the Commons, Promenade, and the Lakes is that the sculptures are modeled in the likeness of the family of retail developer Rick Caruso of Caruso Holdings.
“I often am asked the question how my work impacts the community. I’m told that it brings joy in a world where there is so much darkness. And people relate to the realism. It creates a sense of community, where children are drawn to the figures, and where families can take pictures with them and just have fun.”
In the heart of Los Angeles (pictured at left), De L’Esprie was commissioned to create another spectacular work for Caruso Holdings: “The Spirit of Los Angeles”. This 17 foot bronze tableau can be found at The Grove, adjacent to the world famous Farmer’s Market. “I don’t like to do stiff things, I like to have the subjects doing something.” The sculptor considers herself an anatomist. “I create the bones and muscles, so the work is sculpted from the inside out, in a very classical, European approach.”
In the case of the male and female angels representing the Spirit of Los Angeles, they are captured dancing in mid-flight, stretching and soaring skyward. “People are attracted to motion...and emotion.”
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, De L’Esprie created the late President’s exuberant likeness in bronze, as well as eagles that Reagan gave as gifts to his international counterparts including Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev. Another admirer of De L’Esprie’s eagle sculptures is Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger. “He buys them for gifts as well as for auctions,” reveals De L’Esprie.
When Sylvester Stallone saw one of De L’Esprie’s creations, “Rocky” decided to commission a 12-foot likeness of himself in bronze for Planet Hollywood in Los Angeles. Other commissions include one from the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, where a statue of Gene Autry and his horse Champion grace the entrance sentinels, and another at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, where De L’Esprie created statues of biblical scenes including “The Prodigal Son”. Collectors and other celebrity admirers include Burt Reynolds and local residents Dick Van Dyke and Robert Wagner. “Every commission and every sale is exciting,” explained De L’Esprie. “It’s a compliment to the artist that it is being appreciated.”
The work of which De L’Esprie is most proud, and meant the most to her as she created it, was for the firefighters in Orange County. “It was actually for the fallen firefighters in New York City, and for all of the firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It was impactful to me because these men are incredibly sensitive as to the great loss they see, and trying to share your vision with them is very moving.”
A philanthropist at heart, De L’Esprie describes herself as a Judeo-Christian. She emphasizes that her faith is very important to her. She regularly donates works and group and individual sculpture classes. “I do a lot of work for churches, synagogues and organizations such as Joni and Friends which represents the Joni Eareckson Tada International Disability Center in Agoura Hills.”
Her craft has also involved deep introspection. Looking at the world around her, and with a philosophy of “thinking locally, acting globally,” De L’Esprie’s has become very active in community involvement. She takes time out of her demanding work schedule to enjoy the neighborhood. What she enjoys most about Westlake Village is the lake, the mountains, the mouth of the canyon and the oak trees. She also frequents local shops and restaurants including Boccaccio’s and the Westlake Village Inn.
Summing up her life, De L’Esprie describes it as “incredibly interesting and fast-paced. If someone had told me years ago that I’d be standing on scaffolding and working with clay and dust, doing what I do, I wouldn’t have believed it! People think you become an artist overnight, but it’s years and years of hard work.”
De L’Esprie’s work can be viewed on her website at delesprie.com or at Bronze Masterworks Studios, 805.495.4560. For press, appearances and other business related information contact Joseph Marraccino - AnArtistMgt@gmail.com
