His life was marked by the atmosphere of old Terchová cottages, where creativity flourished even in times of great poverty. Specifically at the Meško family, all six siblings played in the family’s wooden music band under their father’s guidance, using self-made instruments. Since childhood, Viliam Meško always had a pocket knife tied to his trouser leg, with which he carved flutes, whistles, and sticks. Thankfully, his passion for both music and carving never left him even in adulthood.

He professionally danced and sang in the ensemble SĽUK, at the A. Duchnovič Theatre in Prešov, and at the Slovak National Theatre. Simultaneously, he passionately devoted himself to woodcarving. “My hands were always calloused, which was quite unusual for a singer. It was as if I had a virus inside me that compelled me to create. Many times I carved until three or four in the morning and then went to the theater for rehearsals. Even though I wanted to sleep, I couldn’t do anything else.”

A turning point in his carving career was his encounter with Alexander Trizuliak in the late 1960s. Thanks to his brother František, who was chosen by the renowned sculptor as a model for creating a statue of a partisan on Bratislava’s Slavín, Viliam could spend time observing and conversing with the outstanding artist directly in his studio. He improved his skills in creating sculptures and also met the then chief artist of the ÚĽUV, Václav Kautman, through him. It was Kautman who later evaluated Viliam Meško’s work, created during an ÚĽUV carving event in Topoľčianky, as the best among all pieces, highlighting the young carver’s authorial sovereignty. He actively started producing art in 1955.

The abundance of sculptures he created, numbering in the hundreds, as well as the numerous exhibitions he held, the majority abroad, attest to his tremendous potential and performance. Through exhibitions, he programmatically presents ancient symbols shaping our nation to people, including many Slovaks who have left their homeland. His musicians, outlaws, and sculptures are distinctive, exuding an almost archetypal power. They awaken human hearts, as evidenced by numerous accolades in chronicles, where many personalities from our cultural and political life have already contributed since the beginning of his career.

To complete the mosaic of Viliam Meško’s work, his original canvas paintings depicting themes from traditional rural life should also be mentioned. Unlike carving, he creates these paintings with his right hand, as a second form of artistic expression. He already sees the final form of a sculpture in the raw wood itself. This is true not only for his sculptures, for which he deliberately seeks materials during his travels worldwide, but also for wood in general, which he greatly respects. Perhaps this stems from the fact that wood is the most natural material in the mountainous region where he grew up, where hard soil unites people and trees. Therefore, working with wood is a unique, liberating experience that transports him into a dreamlike world of our mythic past, far from ordinary days.

However, he does not lose touch with real life. His activities for the local community (such as founding the folklore ensemble Červené jabĺčko in Rovinka), his sense of humor, and his gift for storytelling, so rare these days, make him an irreplaceable companion who enriches the world.

The title of Master of Folk Art was awarded to him in 2015.