Lesiuk Oleh
Born in 1959 in Lviv, Ukraine. In 1981, graduated with honours from the Lviv National Academy of Applied and Decorative Arts. Commenced his work at the Sculpture Department of the Lviv’s College of Applied Arts named after Ivan Trush (1982-1992). Since 1992 lives and creates in Canada. Works in sculpture (compositions, figurative, portraits, architectural), monumental sculpture, painting, murals, restoration and gilding.
Since 1980 has been a participant in numerous group exhibits in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, USA and Canada. Had five solo exhibitions in Toronto, Canada in 1994, 1999, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Organized and participated in three symposiums in wood sculpture in 1999 – 2001.
Created several monuments, monumental signs, park sculptures and memorial plaques in Ukraine, USA, Canada, France and Great Britain. Earned numerous awards and grants. Among them, in 2006, received a Monument Builders of North America Civic/Public. Award for the Monument in Rochester, NY, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Settlement.
In 2015 Oleh was awarded by the Ukrainian World Congress with T. Shevchenko Jubilee Medal. His bronze sculpture “Angel” for Dacco Family Monument was among twelve selected Canadian sculptures to be represented in the 2002 INTRIA Items Annual Report/ Calendar. In 1996 – 1998 Oleh was selected by Metro Toronto School Board and Metro Separate School Board to participate in Arts Discovery Program and Artist-in-School Program as an instructor of sculpture. His teaching experience was recognized in an article “Sculpting Young Minds” by Rebecca Reid in the “Arts on the Edge” magazine.
To improve his business skills as an artist, Oleh participated in 1999 – 2000 in the Self-Employment Assistance Program in Toronto. His company Ole’Art & Sculpture successfully operates business across North America by providing art services to corporations and private sector.
President of the Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada. Vice-President and Art Committee Chair of the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation. Member of National Art Council of Canada (Canadian Ukrainian Congress), Art Council (Ukrainian World Congress). Member of the National Artist’s Union of Ukraine and the Sculptor’s Society of Canada.
Some of the latest projects include:
- Gilding Restoration of the Canadian Parliament Library in Ottawa;
- Sculpture restoration of Regent Theatre, Oshawa, ON;
- Sculpture Composition “A Nation’s Memory”, St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Church, Oakville, ON;
- Memorial Plaque in commemoration of Dr. Raphael Lemkin, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, NY, USA
- Iconostas for All Saints Chapel, Oakville, ON;
- Bronze sculptures for the BCU Foundation, World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, Social Services Canada, Ukrainian Professional and Business Association, Ukrainian Festival in Toronto;
- Our Lady of Sheshan Statue for St. Martyr’s Shrine, Midland, ON;
- Restoration of the “Sacred Heart” sculpture for the St. Joseph Health Centre, Toronto, ON;
- Wood Crucifixion and Relieves for the Saviour of the World Chinese Catholic Church, Mississauga ON;
- Gilding Restoration of the Iconostas for St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Toronto, ON.
Oleh’s artwork is in private and public collections in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, USA and Canada.
Among them are:
- President of Ukraine, Honourable Petro Poroshenko;
- President of Ukraine, Honourable Viktor Yushchenko;
- Roy J. Romanow, Q.C., Commissioner and Former Premier of Saskatchewan;
- Toronto Mayor David Miller;
- Chicago Mayor Richard J. Dayle, USA;
- Senator of Canada A. Raynell Andreychuk;
- Member of Parliament Bernard Trottier;
- Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewsky;
- His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church;
- Canadian Journalist and award winning Author Victor Malarek;
- Luba Goy, actress, “Air Canada Farce”.
- James Temerty, Northland Power, Toronto, ON
Selected public collections include:
- Parliament of Canada;
- Halifax City Hall;
- Montreal City Hall;
- Ottawa City Hall;
- Toronto City Hall;
- Winnipeg City Hall;
- Saskatoon City Hall;
- Edmonton City Hall.