I design public art for hospitals and schools and public spaces. I work with teams of crafts people, and often the life of an artist is really a living story math problem: you must create something, you have X amount of dollars, now figure it out. You need to know who you’ll call and who will help you. We all learn things on the path of life, such as how to be a good listener and be flexible.
As a part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing David Lee Csicsko.
David Lee Csicsko’s distinctive artwork, stained glass, and mosaics beautify train stations, hospitals, churches, and universities across the Midwest and East Coast. His many credits include designing the Obamas’ White House Christmas in 2012. David’s lively illustrations can also be seen in The Skin You Live In from the Chicago Children’s Museum, now in its 16th printing. Through his use of color, bold graphics and playful patterns, David Lee Csicsko celebrates the richness and diversity of life.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Hammond Indiana, in the shadows of Chicago’s tall buildings and Chicago has always been my NYC. My folks often took me to visit the many museums in Chicago, like The Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Science and Industry. To this day I’m a museum fan, I also give really good tours of our Chicago art museum. I love doing it. If I visit a city you will find me at the museums.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was always the art kid, and was also interested in drawing, theater and, for a bit, chorus. I knew I wanted to be an artist very early on.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I’m lucky that I’ve always been able to adapt my skills, from graphics, to mosaic design, and stained glass too. Now I’m very vested in creating books and book content. I tell students to always enter contests. You may win, but it’s actually a big effort. And stick with it. It’s not an easy life, but I love what I do.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Definitely the book series I’m working on through a publishing house out of Chicago called Trope — the books feature portraits of people in science, LGBTQ+ icons in the arts, and iconic composers and fashion people. Hopefully there will be more books in the portrait series. I want to show that learning can be really exciting. I also just finished a large mosaic with a bird theme. Coming up with the idea, designing it, getting the funding, and seeing to completion was hard work, yet fun work too.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
When I was in high school I was selected for something called the Citizens Apprenticeship Program. I was chosen because I won poster contests and we would go visit hospitals, ecology places, and factories, meeting the people in charge. We were encouraged to ask questions but I was a bit shy back then. Later in life, after art school, I worked on books and magazines. I worked on a book for the Art Institute of Chicago, a family guide to the art museum, and felt very comfortable asking questions and verbalizing my ideas for the book project. I know my youthful experiences helped get me ready. It’s important to communicate, say clear thoughts, and be able to solve problems. Often, these are visual problems.
Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?
I’m interested in many things. I love looking up information and reading. One topic or one person always leads to another. My affection for classical music, science & the arts, and doing drawings of individuals in these fields all lead to the making of these books.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
It’s all about communicating and sharing education. I also think it’s our imaginations that will save us. Scientists explored all sorts of possibilities. That hunger, sticking to it, and even failing brought new solutions. We lived through COVID, along with the research for effective vaccines, with the help of science. I also help many charities with my design and drawing skills, designing posters, banners, and t-shirts. It all helps.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
I design public art for hospitals and schools and public spaces. I work with teams of crafts people, and often the life of an artist is really a living story math problem: you must create something, you have X amount of dollars, now figure it out. You need to know who you’ll call and who will help you. We all learn things on the path of life, such as how to be a good listener and be flexible.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.: 🙂
My movement would center around kindness, being thoughtful, and being imaginative. You have to think: what can I bring to the table that nobody else can?
We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this.
When I was a young art kid, I loved Toulouse Lautrec. He died a long time ago, but to have walked with him, drawn with him and asked questions would have been fun.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
I’m always posting things on Facebook and Instagram.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
David Lee Csicsko: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.