Artist Directory

  • Lednev, Vitaliy
  • Lednev, Vitaliy
  • Russian Federation
Lednev, Vitaliy

Bio

When Vitaly was 20 years old in architectural school in Russia, a professor asked for volunteers to make a New Year’s celebration ice park for children. He’s been sculpting ever since, focusing on creating children’s ice playgrounds as a winter profession.

Vitaly has been coming to Ice Alaska for 16 years, carving both in single block and multi block. Fifteen of those years he’s taken gold in the realistic and the abstract categories, as well as winning second to fifth places numerous times. Over these years he’s seen a gradual evolution in the ice tools used and he’s seen progress in dynamic creation. Ice carving is not a “frozen” art. Design is a fluid process.

Vitaly likes the Ice Alaska competition because it has the biggest and most beautiful blocks of ice anywhere. Coming to this competition gives him a chance to study the works of others – observe their techniques, see what tools they use, and gain ideas for new creations. It’s like coming to a big workshop.

An educational ice carving experience isn’t the only bonus Vitaly has gotten from coming to Ice Alaska. He also got a wife. Four years ago he was carving in multi block next to a Japanese lady who was doing multi block all by herself. He was impressed! They dated by visiting each other’s counties, Russia and Japan, and were married in Japan. They lived in Russia but recently moved to Japan.

For Vitaly, some of the challenges of ice carving are staying physically fit, creating movement in the design and creating new “visible textures” on ice. Completing the carving is his reward.

Vitaly likes his ice carvings to be “maximum in the air” and “minimum support of the ice.” That is, he wants a very small base of ice and all the rest of the ice to look like it’s in the air, giving the feeling of flying or freedom. Based on the number of awards he’s received, that technique must be working well for him.

 

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Photo Site Number Piece Title Rating
1st
Team Photo
4.8/5 rating (9 votes)
1st
Team Photo
2014
Multi-Block Classic
Heavy Duty Dream
4.6/5 rating (16 votes)
1st
SB_SITE 31
2013
Single-Block Classic
The Meteor Final Destination
Artists' Choice Award
5.0/5 rating 1 vote
3rd
MB_SITE 07
2013
Multi-Block Classic
Singing in Unison
Artists' Choice Award
5.0/5 rating (3 votes)
3rd
SB_SITE 05
5.0/5 rating (2 votes)
1st
MB_SITE 20
2012
Multi-Block Classic
Rebirth of Elements
5.0/5 rating 1 vote
1st
SB_SITE 35
2011
Single-Block Classic
"Sail of Love"
Artists Choice
5.0/5 rating 1 vote
1st
MB_SITE 22
2011
Multi-Block Classic
Clock of Salvador Dali
Artists Choice Abstract
2.8/5 rating (10 votes)
1st
SB_SITE 07
5.0/5 rating 1 vote
1st
MB_SITE 18
2010
Multi-Block Classic
Winds of Alaska
Artists Choice Abstract
5.0/5 rating 1 vote
1st
Team Photo
4.8/5 rating (8 votes)
4th
MB_SITE 24
2015
Multi-Block Classic
Super Bowl
Governor's Award
4.7/5 rating (39 votes)
1st
Team Photo
2016
Single-Block Classic
Jellyfish Hunter
3.8/5 rating (4 votes)
Team Photo
4.7/5 rating (38 votes)
1st
Team Photo
2017
Single-Block Classic
Beauty and the Beast
5.0/5 rating (3 votes)
1st
Team Photo
2017
Multi-Block Classic
Kabuki Theater: Spirit of the Samurai
4.2/5 rating (15 votes)
1st
Team Photo
4.7/5 rating (15 votes)
4th
Team Photo
2019
Multi-Block Classic
Jump for the Ocean
3.3/5 rating (75 votes)

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