胡锡乾1941年生，浙江永康人。1960年考入浙江美术学院（现中国美院）雕塑系，师从肖从玖、王卓予、沈文强等先生，1966年毕业。曾先后在浙江省青田县工交手工业局、浙江省衢县干部，美术创作设计干部和陶瓷研究所所长，副厂长等职。1988年调入浙江师范大学美术系任教至今。曾任素描教研室主任、美术系主任，现为浙江师范大学艺术学院常务副院长、教授。系中国工艺美术学会会员、浙江美术家协会理事、浙江雕塑家协会副主席、浙江高校画会理事，金华市美协副主席。
自幼酷爱美术，从小学至高中一直伴随着他的成长，并获取进入高等美术学府深造的机会，学生时代就曾有雕塑作品《风雪千里》在省报上发表。毕业后都在基层机关工作，历年有《女炮工》、《老石匠》、《金秋》、《绘瓷姑娘》、《渔讯》、《战友》、《陶行知》、《旅风》等十数件雕塑作品入选省和全国美展。作品构思严谨，立意明确，造型准确稳定，手法浑厚质朴，极富生活气息和精神感染力，瓷雕创伤注重造型与神情的深入刻划；注意传统工艺雕刻关于线条的处理与现代雕塑关于体面的塑造完美的结合，使作品流动着端庄柔美的韵律，洋溢首高雅别致的情趣。曾有《美人鱼》获全国首届“陶瓷杯”银杯奖，《蚌姑娘》获全国陶瓷创作设计评比二等奖和多件省级的优秀设计奖，同时被入选美国、刚果、亚太地区等世界性博鉴会展出。
近年有《象山》、《阳光》、《泉》、《渔歌》、《陈亮》、《烛光曲》、《思》、《严济慈》等十数件城雕在各地落成，作品以其完美和稳健的构图、凝重和洗炼的造型，丰富和强烈的精神内涵组人以力和美的艺术感受。其中《陈亮》获全国“鲁艺杯”银牌奖，《烛光曲》获省艺术节铜奖。近年有《关于雕塑语言的探索》、《雕塑中抽象因素及其功能》等多篇论文和多件雕塑作品在《雕塑》、《美苑》等刊物上发表，并出版有《胡锡乾雕塑作品集》。

Hu Xiqian is unripe 1941, zhejiang always health person. Took an examination of Zhejiang academy of fine arts 1960 (show Chinese beautiful courtyard) sculpture is, the gentleman such as Zhuo Yu of Shi Congxiao Cong Jiu, king, Shen Wenjiang, graduated 1966. Green cropland county is saved to be versed in province of bureau of industry of fight hand to hand, Zhejiang thoroughfares in Zhejiang after Ceng Xian prefectural cadre, art creative work designs cadre and director of institute of pottery and porcelain, assistant factory director waits for duty. Transferred into faculty of art of Zhejiang Normal University teachs 1988 up to now. Ever held the post of director of sketch staff room, art to fasten a director, it is institute of art of Zhejiang Normal University now standing assistant dean, professor. College of vice-chairman of association of sculptor of director of association of artist of academician of department China arts and crafts, Zhejiang, Zhejiang, Zhejiang draws conference director, golden China city is beautiful assist vice-chairman.
From a child loves art, learn what accompanying him all the time to high school to grow as a child, get the chance that enters advanced art institution of higher learning to take advanced courses, student times ever had sculpture work " wind snow a thousand li " publish on province newspaper. Graduation hind works in basic level mechanism, calendar year has " female artillery piece is versed in " , " old manson " , " fall " , " draw porcelain girl " , " fishing dispatch " , " comrade-in-arms " , " Tao Hang knows " , " brigade wind " wait for ten sculpture work selected province and. Work conception is rigorous, make up one's mind is clear, modelling is accurate and stable, ploy is simple and honest and simple, breath of extremely rich life and mental appeal, porcelain carving scar pays attention to the thorough score of modelling and expression; Notice conventional technology carves the processing about line and contemporary sculpture to be united in wedlock faultlessly about be being modelled creditably, make work is flowing dignified of soft beauty metrical, be permeated with a decorous and chic appeal. Ever had " mermaid " win the throughout the country first " cup of pottery and porcelain " silver cup award, " mussel girl " obtain countrywide pottery and porcelain to create design appraise through comparison second-class award and many provincial excellent design award, be met to exhibit by the cosmopolitan Bo Jian such as area of selected United States, Congo, Asia-Pacific at the same time.
Have in recent years " elephantine hill " , " sunshine " , " spring " , " fisherman's song " , " Chen Liang " , " candle power music " , " think of " , " Yan Jici " wait for ten cities carve to be in each district completion, work with its perfect with dovish composition of a picture, dignified and the modelling that wash refine, abound and person of strong mental connotation group is experienced with force and beautiful art. Among them " Chen Liang " win the throughout the country " Lu Yi cup " silver medal award, " candle power music " award of copper of section of the art that capture a province. Have in recent years " the exploration about sculpture language " , " element of the abstraction in sculpture and its function " wait for many paper and many sculpture work to be in " sculpture " , " beautiful garden " etc publish on the journal, publish have " collect of work of Hu Xiqian sculpture " .