Veronica Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan (Kva-set–sky-ya – t-see-g-lan) (born December 28, 1966) is a Canadian classical realist painter specializing in the
Old Masters' technique. She is active in the contemporary revival of the classical tradition of fine art portraiture in Canada. She founded the Portrait Society of Canada in 2001 in Toronto, Canada and is the current chairman.
Life
Kvassetskaia was born on December 28, 1966, in Moscow to Russian mother Taisia Levicheva and Polish father Vladimir Kvassetski. She has an older sister named Olga.
Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan began displaying talent and an affection for the arts at an early age—playing the violin, singing, sculpting and drawing. Later on, she developed an interest in analytical chemistry, science and psychology.
From a young age, Kvassetskaia knew that she wanted to be an artist and as a teenager she began reproducing works of the
. She became a pupil of the Soviet Ossetian artist Lolita Gally. She studied Fine Art at the V. Surikov State Academy Art Institute, then Art History at the
Moscow State University.
She emigrated from Russia in 1991.
Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan studied in
Frankfurt, Germany while working in the field of restoration. She reproduced Old Masters' works in
Alte Pinakothek, the
Louvre, and then in
Larnaca, Cyprus where she studied Greek Orthodox iconography at the Agia Moni Monastery workshop. In 1996, she moved to
Toronto, Canada, where she lives and paints at her studio in Willowdale.
Work
Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan is a realist painter specializing in classical
portraiture. She follows in the style of the
Old Masters, such as
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (; 6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), known as Michelangelo (), was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was insp ...
and
Leonardo da Vinci.
Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan has researched her craft, its history and techniques. Her central focus has been uncovering, understanding and reproducing the secrets of the Old Masters.
Her portraits have been exhibited in museums and private and corporate collections internationally. Her works can be found in the collections of former Canadian Finance Minister
Jim Flaherty and the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Hon.
David Onley, the Countess Von
Wedel
Wedel is a town in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approximately south of Elmshorn, and west of Hamburg.
History
Foundation and Middle Ages
The first known mention of ...
,
Sonja Bata Museum and St. Marks Coptic Museum.
She has received portrait commissions from
Vladislav Tretiak,
Measha Brueggergosman,
Ekaterina Gubanova
Ekaterina Gubanova (russian: Екатерина Губанова; born 1979) is a Russian mezzo-soprano opera singer who has performed at major international opera houses, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera, the Metropoli ...
,
Dmitri Hvorostovsky,
Lee Carroll,
Larysa Kuzmenko, Tom Diamond,
Simon Whitfield,
Jessica Zelinka
Jessica Zelinka (born 3 September 1981 in London, Ontario) is a Canadian pentathlete, heptathlete, and 100 m hurdler. Her personal best score is 6599 points for the heptathlon. She was the gold medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games. Zeli ...
, Claire Hopkinson, Brahm Goldhamer,
Patricia Bezzoubenko
Patricia Bezzoubenko (born 21 February 1997) is a Canadian individual Elite rhythmic gymnast. She is a 4 time Canadian Senior National champion, 5 time Commonwealth Games Champion, Pan-American games medalist. She holds dual citizenship with Cana ...
, Murray Pollitt and a historical portrait of
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia.
Awards and recognition
*2002 First Place Award, International Portrait Competition, Jackman Hall, AGO, PSC
*2002 Peoples’ Choice Award, International Portrait Competition, Jackman Hall, AGO, PSC
*2003
Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Award Grant, Canada
*2004 Certificate of Excellence in Fine Art Portraiture, PSC, Canada
*2013 International Contemporary Artist catalogue, Volume XVIII, USA
*2014 International Contemporary Artist, Volume X, USA,
*2002–Present, Professional Member of
the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
Appearances in media
*2009 Featured On
Bravo (Canada) in “Star Portraits, episode 3, Measha Brueggergossman”(TV Series). PTV Productions. Canada
*2014 “Creating life on Canvas” - Biographical Documentary by M. Petrenko Productions
[Archived a]
Ghostarchive
and th
Wayback Machine
Gallery exhibitions
*Gallery 7, Yorkville, Toronto
*Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON
*Art Student league, New York, NY
*
Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Unionville, ON
*Imaginart Gallery, Toronto, ON
*Heliconian Club, Toronto, ON
*Toronto Centre for the Arts Gallery, Toronto, ON
*John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, ON
*St Marks Coptic Museum, Iconography Exhibition, Toronto, ON
*Bohemiarte Gallery, Montreal, QC
*
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, ON
External links
*http://www.portraitsociety.ca/
*http://www.portraitcanada.com/
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan, Veronica
1966 births
Living people
Artists from Moscow
Canadian women artists
Russian emigrants to Canada