Ladislav Čisárik (29 December 1953 – 3 August 2017) was a Slovak heraldic artist, painter, and graphic designer. In 1990, Ladislav Čisárik and Ladislav Vrtel co-designed the coat of arms of Slovakia, the current flag of Slovakia, and the presidential standard of the president of Slovakia.[1] [2] [3] He also designed or modified the coat of arms and seals for more than 100 towns and municipalities in Slovakia.[1] [2]
Ladislav Čisárik was born on 29 December 1953.[1] He owned and operated his own graphic design studio, called Signum, in Bratislava from 1979 until his death in 2017.[1] [2]
Ladislav Čisárik worked with the Heraldic Commission of Ministry of the Interior to create new Slovak national symbols in the aftermath of the Velvet Revolution, including a new flag and coat of arms.[1] Working together, he and Ladislav Vrtel, an expert in heraldry, created a new Coat of arms of Slovakia in 1990.[1] [3] Ladislav Čisárik and Vrtel based their modern design, which includes a double cross, on an existing 14th century Hungarian coat of arms,[2] it was based on the seal of King Louis I of Hungary.[4] [5] However, they chose to enlarge and triple the size of the double cross on their new coat of arms because they considered the cross to be a meaningful national symbol.[1] [2] Čisárik and Vrtel also designed the flag of Slovakia, which came into force on 3 September 1992, and the new presidential standard, both of which incorporate their coat of arms.[1]
In 1994, Ladislav Čisárik illustrated a guidebook called "Najstaršie rody na Slovensku" ("Oldest Homes in Slovakia").[2] He also released a map in poster format in 1996 which shows the official municipal flags and coats of arms for 136 cities in Slovakia.[2]
Ladislav Čisárik died on 3 August 2017, following a serious illness, at the age of 63.[1] [2] He was survived by his wife, Emilia Čisáriková.[2]