Boris Blai

Boris Blai (July 24, 1893 – June 28, 1985) was a Ukrainian-born American sculptor, and academic administrator. His work was part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Key Information

Boris Blai
Born	(1893-07-24)July 24, 1893 Rivne, Ukraine
Died	June 28, 1985(1985-06-28) (aged 91) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Sculptor
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In 1935, Blai founded and became the dean of the Stella Elkins Tyler School of Art at Temple University.^[2][3] The school was named for one of his former students, who, with her husband, had donated the estate where it was established.^[4][3]

Two of Blai's sculptures are publicly accessible on the Temple campus: a large bust of Temple's founder Russell Conwell which decorates Conwell's grave site, and a small statue of Johnnie Ring, Conwell's orderly during the Civil War.^[5]

1. ^ "Boris Blai". Olympedia. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
2. ^ "Boris Blai Personal Papers". temple.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Temple Art Classes in 50-Room Mansion – Four-Year Course Is Instituted on Former Tyler Estate in Elkins Park". The New York Times. October 20, 1935. pp. N7. Under the direction of Boris Blai, sculptor, who is director of the new school, the [Tyler mansion] has been remodeled into classrooms and studios.
4. ^ "Sculptress Gives College $1,000,000 for Two-Year Course". News-Week. July 13, 1935. pp. 34–35. "In September [the university] hopes to open the Stella Elkins Tyler Fine Arts College of Temple University.... No faculty has been chosen as yet, but Philadelphians feel sure that Blai, – Mrs. Tyler's genial stout teacher – will get the post of director."
5. ^ "Artist: Boris Blai". philart.net. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

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