The First Lady's Porcelain Artist

Mst people who immigrated from post-Soviet countries to the United States in the 80s and 90s and achieved success in their new home were young, energetic, and open to new experiences. That’s why the story of Ukrainian artist and architect Victor Kanevsky is even more remarkable, as he made the bold decision to move to the U.S. at a mature age, already an established professional with significant work experience. He wasn’t old – he was 40 when he made the move in 1989. However, he acknowledges that making significant life changes at that age can be quite challenging, especially with limited English skills and only $300 in his pocket.

Life before Immigration

Victor was born and raised in Kharkiv, where he also obtained his degree in architecture from the local institute. However, finding work in his hometown proved difficult, so in the 70s, he moved to Leningrad. Alongside his main jobs at the Architectural Museum and later at the Art Combine, he developed a passion for ceramics sculpting and even contributed to decorating a showcase in a Leningrad store. Although he didn’t pursue ceramics as a primary focus, he would later return to it with renewed enthusiasm in America.

First Steps

Victor’s initial days in the new country were predictably tough. He found his first job through a newspaper ad, relying on a friend to communicate with the client due to his limited English. Fortunately, the deal went smoothly, he got the commission, and all that was left was to purchase the necessary equipment and master porcelain sculpting.

Having previously worked solely with ceramics, Victor had to start from scratch to learn the art of porcelain sculpting. However, porcelain proved to be a unique material, prompting Victor to continually explore and discover new nuances even today. His first creation, an elegant soup tureen in the 18th-century style, was a success. Later, it was complemented by other pieces to form a luxurious vegetable-themed set.

From Vegetables to Flowers!

A year later, Victor began delving into creating porcelain flowers. Each flower demanded a unique approach, making it impossible to rely on a universal method. He encountered challenges even with creating the delicate stems, often unable to withstand firing. As a solution, he started incorporating metal rods for the stems and tinted copper for the leaves.

Creating porcelain flowers became Victor’s consuming passion. Before starting a project, he thoroughly studies the live prototype, even planting a sizable flower bed near his home. Modern technologies now aid his work: he photographs the plant from various angles and uses computer programs to create precise models. Over the years, he has amassed thousands of sketches that inspire his new compositions.

Success and Recognition

ictor struggled with irregular commissions for a long time, often barely making ends meet. To attract potential clients, he walked through New York City’s central districts, showcasing sketches and photos of his completed works. His fortune changed when he met Charlotte Moss, a globally renowned interior designer. She not only recognized Victor’s talent immediately but also placed an order for five of his pieces!

With a client like Charlotte, Victor’s advertising worries disappeared. Today, his clientele includes fashion icons like Tommy Hilfiger, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, and other celebrities. Even the First Lady of the U.S. at the time, Melania Trump, personally gifted one of Victor’s roses to the wife of the Japanese Prime Minister. Victor cherished that rose, keeping it in his studio for a long time and only parting with it at the insistence of White House buyers.

oday, Victor’s creations fetch tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. For instance, his most expensive composition, featuring dahlias, mallows, roses, tulips, and other flowers, sold for $250,000.

ecently, Victor revealed his lifelong love for plants, as he was a botanist back in school! Interestingly, he doesn’t see any conflict between this passion and his architecture background, finding similarities between plants and buildings. Thus, sculpting porcelain flowers has brought him full circle to his initial interests!

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