Veronica Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan

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[3] and as a teenager she began reproducing works of the Old Masters. 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.[4][5] She emigrated from Russia in 1991. Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan perfected her skills 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.[6] In 1996, she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she currently lives and paints at her studio in Willowdale.[7] She has a son, Vladimir Tsyglian, who is a professional actor and opera singer, a daughter Anna who is a aerial circus performer, and youngest child Bee.

Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan is a realist painter specializing in classical portraiture. She follows in the style of the Old Masters, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, producing portraits that appear to be a step back in time.[8] Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan's work is known for its realism, museum quality and archival permanence. Throughout her professional career, Veronica has many years to the research and study of her craft, its history and techniques.[9] Her central focus has been uncovering, understanding and reproducing the secrets of the Old Masters.

Her portraits have been exhibited in museums[10] and prestigious private and corporate collections internationally.[11][12][13] 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, Sonja Bata Museum and St. Marks Coptic Museum. She has received portrait commissions from Vladislav Tretiak, Measha Brueggergosman, Ekaterina Gubanova, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Lee Carroll, Larysa Kuzmenko, Tom Diamond, Simon Whitfield, Jessica Zelinka, Claire Hopkinson, Brahm Goldhamer, Patricia Bezzoubenko, Murray Pollitt and a historical portrait of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia.[14]

• 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
• 2007 Honorary certificate and induction into the World Edition of “Who’s Who”
• 2013 International Contemporary Artist catalogue, Volume XVIII, USA [15]
• 2014 International Contemporary Artist, Volume X, USA,[16]
• 2005–Present, International Juror for "The Miracle Of the Portrait: Canadian Portrait Competition"
• 2002–Present, Professional Member of the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto[17]