Nicolai Cikovsky (1894-1984)

Landscape and figure painter Nicolai S. Cikovsky was born in Russia, where he studied at the Vilna Art School from 1910-1914; the Penza Royal Art School, from 1914-1918; and Moscow High Tech Art Institute, from 1921-1923.  He emigrated to the United States in 1923, exhibiting in that year in New York City at the Charles Daniels Gallery.  In 1942, Cikovsky began spending summers on Long Island, New York, in the North Sea area, where he moved permanently in the late 1970s.  He painted many land and seascapes there, and is said to have been an influence on two well-known area painters, Jane Freilicher and Fairfield Porter.

Cikovsky was a member of New York City institutions, including the National Academy of Design (Associate 1968; Academician 1970); National Institute of Arts and Letters; and Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers.

Some of the artists exhibitions include:
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Whitney Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1932-1949
National Academy of Design, New York, 1947-1949; Purchase Prizes: 1959, 1960, 1964, and Isaac N. Maynard Prize in 1964
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, 1932-1955, 1966
Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh
New York Worlds Fair, 1940
Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois, 1931 (medal), 1932 (Harris Bronze Medal and Logan Purchase Prize), 1933 (prize), 1960-1961
Downtown Gallery, New York, 1933, 1938
Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1930-1957, also solo
Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio
Worcester Museum of Art, Massachusetts, 1933 (first prize)
Society of Washington Artists, 1937-1939 (medals), 1940-1941
Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey
Glasgow Museum, Scotland
Salons of America
Whyte Gallery, Washington, D. C., 1939, solo
Associated American Artists, New York, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1956
Studio Gallery, solo
Washington D. C. Public Library, solo
IFA Gallery, solo

Nicolai Cikovskys work may be found in the following collections:
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Brooklyn Museum, New York
Art Institute of Chicago
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri
Los Angeles Museum
Worcester Museum of Art
University of Arizona, Tucson
Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.
W. R. Nelson Gallery, Kansas City
Milwaukee Art Institute
Phillips Memorial Gallery, Washington, D.C.
University of Minnesota

The artists extensive teaching experience includes:
Ekaterinenburg Higher Tech Art Institute, Russia, 1919-1921
St. Paul School of Art, 1934-1935
Cincinnati Art Academy, 1935-1936
Art Institute of Chicago, 1937
Art Students League of New York
College of Notre Dame, Maryland
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.