EJ Taylor NIADA Artist Elected 1993

 

In Memoriam

It is with great sadness that I share with you that our dear friend and fellow artist, EJ Taylor, passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2022. His niece TJ Taylor Frey, shared the news on Facebook.

Any of us who knew him knew of his eccentricities, his storytelling, and his amazing talent. He was an incredible artist and mentor, and we will miss all that made him EJ. ~ Cindee Moyer, NIADA President

With much sadness, I share with friends and family that my uncle E.J. passed away tonight. Years of living with diabetes led to several complications that ultimately caused his body to shut down. He has been such a big part of my life and I am forever grateful for the close connection we shared. Rest in peace, Uncle E ♥~ TJ Taylor Frey

RIP to a brilliant artist, generous teacher, a fascinating storyteller, a bright, thoughtful, and delicate person, E.J. Taylor.
It was amazing enough to meet you, but it was a true gift to get to know you. Your soulful art and your inspiring personality affected so many. I will cherish forever, in my heart, that little time with you, you were kind to share with me personally. Honestly, I’m thinking of you with every doll I’m making. I don’t even know if I would be hooked to the art of dolls if I wouldn’t be aware of your creations. That black and white book for sculptors you told me to buy is still opened every time I’m sculpting. I’m saving your instructional printouts and little sketches you did on random pieces of paper. You’ve been teaching art the “old” way. Not only “how”, but “why” and “what for”.
You’ve been so particular about the paints, brushes, and materials to use, that it felt like with enough thought and effort from these fine “jewels”, something magical will appear for sure. Too bad you never wrote a book about your incredible life, even though you told me that you would think about it.
And next time I’m in Portland I will definitely go to that deli on 23rd Street again, get a bagel with smoked fish (the finest around, delivered weekly from NY), and probably cry. ~ Anya Anderson

One of my most cherished spirits passed away last night. E.J. Taylor, brilliant artist, generous influential teacher, loyal friend, soul mate. Rest in peace and love. You know how much I will miss you. ~ Shelley Thornton

Rest in peace, EJ. Life is hard when life becomes a struggle, so when the soul finds peace the memories get softer. He amazed everybody in the doll world with his amazing skills to make a doll a true piece of art!!! We all have been lucky that we have experienced this. ~ Ankie Daanen

Oh my goodness, I am very sorry to hear this news. His artistry will forever grace NIADA’s history of the art of the doll. My sympathy goes out to his family. Rest in Peace EJ. ~ Christine Shively Benjamin

EJ was a good storyteller …. And the stories were all true. Imagine being a personal friend of Judy Dench! He left a lifetime of very accomplished works of art. EJ’s talent was legendary in the world of figurative art, and he was held in reverence by many. Rest in Peace EJ. ~ Lesley Keeble in Asheville, NC

EJ was indeed an amazing talent, and a charismatic influence on so many of us. He will forever be my ‘link’ to NIADA, and while I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore, I will miss him, eccentricities and all. ~ Connie Smith

You will be dearly missed EJ. Gone but never forgotten, forever in our hearts. RIP EJ Taylor. ~ Chris Chomick

Another sad loss! I met E.J. thanks to Gail Zimmer while in England, and we encouraged him to join the farewell party of the GDS convention we were part of. There he met Arline Garten who invited him too, to visit a NIADA conference the year after, where he met Bob McKinley and all, and the rest is history. Personally, I learned a lot from him. ~ Elisabeth Flueler-Tomamichel

At a conference many years ago, EJ was giving advice on distressing fabric. “Whatever it takes….” he offered as he stomped on a swatch. That comment has stayed with me. Then a few years later, he was a little late getting his doll to the Gallery Night opening….because he was still in his room adding the final touches to her gown! Ha! “So”, I thought, “he is just a mere mortal like the rest of us!” ~ Juanita Zientara

Please visit EJ Taylor’s Facebook page for shared memories and condolences: LINK TO EJ TAYLOR PAGE

Harry - EJ Taylor
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Harry

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Belle Of The Masque - EJ Taylor
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EJ Taylor

EJ Taylor (Elected 1993): Belle of the Masque. Paperclay

Balthazaar - EJ Taylor
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Balthazaar

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Oberon - EJ Taylor
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Oberon

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Oberon (detail) - EJ Taylor
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Oberon (detail)

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Lydia - EJ Taylor
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Lydia

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Captain Hook - EJ Taylor
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Captain Hook

Paperclay, 2001

Maggie - EJ Taylor
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Maggie

Tiffany windows NYC "Christmas Elf". Paperclay, 1982

Mother John - EJ Taylor
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Mother John

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I grew up in the Pacific Northwest; our family alternated the seasons of our year between salmon fishing, working the fishing canneries on Kodiak Island off the coast of Alaska, and managing a dairy, sheep and horse farm. My interest in dollmaking began with my introduction to folk dolls as a child. I began making dolls with baling wire, cotton, scraps from my mother’s quilting basket and her worn-out nylon stockings. But my dollmaking was not encouraged, so I gave it up.

I studied art and theater in college and, later, costume and fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York City. In college I experimented with sculpting and making marionettes. Then I worked in New York as a designer in theater, film and ballet. After moving to London in 1979, I wrote and illustrated my Ivy Cottage series of children’s books, which was published there and in the USA. But by 1986 I was missing dollmaking, and started a new creation. There was no turning back.

After my induction as an Artist member in 1993, I served NIADA by increasing our ranks with international members. At the request of Helen Kish and Robert Tonner, I planned the inaugural curriculum for the Foundations Course in Dollmaking that accompanies each NIADA conference.

I continue to lecture and show internationally, most recently in Eastern Europe, and several of my original figures have been released in (sold out) Limited Editions through Kat Soto’s site, The Dollsmith.