selected sculptures
Shelter of light, air and protection, 1972
Sketches from 1972 reveal a profound exploration of the relationship between mother and child, focusing on gestures of holding and letting go. Notebooks from this period often feature words such as 'shelter,' 'light,' 'air,' and 'protection,' reflecting Cecile’s ongoing inquiries, which were explored through various mediums, including drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Shelter of Light, Air, and Protection is one such work.
Dream, 2005
During a portrait sitting, Cecile's daughter Maureen exclaimed, “I don’t have enough time to dream.” Her words became the inspiration and starting point for this bronze sculpture, which depicts a peaceful, contented head resting on its side in sleep.
Bronze and wood, 1 of 2
85 x 48 x 41 cm
Ner Tamid 1981
Ner Tamid is a small bronze sculpture commissioned in 1981 by Evelyn and Meyer Rose in memory of their parents. The piece offers a quiet presence of light within Menorah synagogue’s interior. Elstein drew inspiration from a passage in the Zohar that describes the divine light as so powerful it can only be glimpsed, at moments. Rather than emitting a constant beam, her sculpture allows chinks of light to emerge from within, offering shifting points of illumination depending on the viewer’s angle. This play of light embodies themes of partial revelation and attentiveness, resonating with the idea that creativity itself can arise through focused intent.
michael kennedy portrait
cbe bronze 2005
In 2005, Cecile was commissioned to create a bronze portrait of Michael Kennedy CBE for the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
