Ostrovsky was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1949, and moved to Israel at the age of five. After his service with the Military Police, Ostrovsky spent six years in the Israeli navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Ostrovsky was placed in charge of all Navy weapons testing. He helped introduce the Harpoon surface-to-surface missile to the Saar Missile Boats, as well as the Vulcan Phalanx anti-missile defense system. In 1982, Ostrovsky writes that he was recruited by the Mossad and trained at the Mossad Academy north of Tel Aviv as a katsa.

Viewers simply cannot look at the canvases of Victor Ostrovsky without thinking far beyond the imagery presented. The tantalizing, mystical and curious images reflect the enterprise and language of the international intelligence communities, which are no stranger to this intriguing and talented artist. Hats, gloves, scarves and umbrellas hide the identities of Ostrovsky's inscrutable figures, lending intrigue and adventure to his theatrical imagery.