Victor Cicansky

Victor Cicansky is a mentor, educator, and sculptor. Cicansky was born in 1935 in Regina, Saskatchewan in a little neighborhood by the name of Garlic Flats, known for its vegetable gardens. His work is described as non-elitist with his sculptures themed around the harvest.

Graduated with a B.Ed. 1964 at the University of Saskatchewan, a B.A in 1965 at the University of Regina and an MFA in 1970 at the University of California. He also studied at Haystack Mountain School of Art at Deere Isle Maine in 2007. 

Cicansky finished his scholarly pursuit with an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Regina in July of 2009. He has taught at the University of Regina for over 20 years, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the University of California at Davis, and the Banff School of Fine Arts.

Primarily working with clay, Cicansky creates jars full of fruit and vegetable preserves. Combining a wry sense of postmodern expressionism based on Cicansky’s upbringing. Cicansky was one of the primary members that started the Regina clay movement (1968-1988). 

This movement garnered the attention of the Canadian provincial government who commissioned Cicansky, alongside his father, and other notable folk artists, to create the Grain Bin for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Cicansky’s clay tableau was also selected to adorn the provincial governments Sturdy-Stone Centre in Saskatoon in 1977 and 1980.

Victor Cicansky is a recipient of many grants and awards including the Victoria and Albert award, the California Kingsley, and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. He has also been given the Saskatchewan Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for lifetime Achievements in the Arts. 

As well as becoming a member of the Order of Canada in September 2012. A gazebo was erected at McLeod Park in the Grow Regina community garden as an expression for Victor’s passion for gardening. Victor Cicansky hopes to bring light to Art education through his sculptures and his teachings.