Victor Cicansky
Victor Cicansky (1935– ) is a Canadian sculptor known for his whimsical narrative ceramics and bronze fruits and vegetables.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Cicansky studied education at the University of Saskatchewan before going on to become an elementary school teacher for several years. It was not until 1964, when Cicansky studied ceramics with Jan Hone that he began to shift towards a career in the arts. Cicansky continued his studies while teaching pottery on the side. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in English and Fine Arts in 1967. From there, under the advice of sculptor Robert Arneson, Cicansky went on to study at the University of California at Davis, where he completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1970. While at Davis, Cicansky was awarded the Kingsley Annual Award for Sculpture (1969). Cicansky went on to lecture at universities throughout North America, before taking up post as a member of the Fine Arts faculty of the University of Regina for several years.
Cicansky cites California Funk as a source of inspiration for his use of brightly painted figurative narratives. Cicansky’s use of vegetables, floral, and fauna in his work can be traced back to his intimate relationship with ecology growing up in the community of Garlic Flats, a working-class neighbourhood that once comprised the east end of Regina, known for its vegetable gardens. Rooted in local realities, his work speaks to the wider world of the trials and joys of supporting a sustainable life in the fast-changing urban prairie landscape, and the importance of preserving local histories as a source of creative expression.
Commissions Cicansky has received include several ceramic sculptures for the Government of Saskatchewan (including "The Old Working Class" displayed in Saskatoon, 1978), and "Regina: My World" for The Co-operators Group (Regina, 1980). His work can be found in many museums and corporate collections, including the Mendel Art Gallery (Saskatoon), Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, Saskatchewan Arts Board, National Gallery of Canada, and Museum of Fine Arts (Tokyo).
Cicansky has been awarded the Victoria and Albert Award for Ceramic Sculpture (1967), the California Kingsley Annual Award for sculpture (1969), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996).
In 2007, Cicansky received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Regina. He was named as a member of the Order of Canada in 2009.