TOP 10 artists of Ukraine

TOP 10 artists of Ukraine

11 Sep 2024

It’s difficult to choose the most outstanding artists in Ukraine. However, we have selected the TOP 10 artists who, in our opinion, not only left a significant mark on the history of art but also influenced its perception worldwide.

Their styles, locations, and periods of creativity vary greatly. However, they are united by their vision of beauty and the genius in their hearts that inspired the creation of unprecedented masterpieces.

 

Тарас Шевченко, автопортрет

Taras Shevchenko

An artist who emphasized his connection to his native land in his work. He drew inspiration from folk motifs and images of Ukrainian nature. His creations include portraits, landscapes, genre scenes, and historical paintings. Shevchenko primarily worked in the techniques of engraving and watercolor, demonstrating masterful skill in light, shadow, and detail. A significant collection of his works is preserved in the Taras Shevchenko National Museum.

Maria Prymachenko

An outstanding Ukrainian folk artist who worked in the style of naïve art. Her works are distinguished by fantastical scenes, vibrant colors, and original forms. Central to her creations are fantastical creatures that combine features of various real animals and imaginary beings. They captivate the imagination and enchant admirers worldwide. Her works have become a part of Ukraine’s national cultural heritage and have gained international recognition.

Over six hundred of Maria Prymachenko’s works are housed in the National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine.

Михайло Бойчук

Mykhailo Boychuk

A prominent Ukrainian monumental artist and one of the founders of the “Boichukism” style, which combined elements of Byzantine and folk art with modernism.

His works aimed to reflect the spirit of a new era by merging Ukrainian traditions with contemporary artistic movements. Even though his creativity did not align with Soviet proletarian art, Boichuk remained true to his distinctive style.

His works were destroyed during Stalinist repressions, and the artist himself was executed in 1937. However, “Boichukism” became a symbol of the Ukrainian avant-garde movement and cultural revival.

Kateryna Bilokur

A famous self-taught Ukrainian artist recognized for her stunning floral compositions. Bilokur had no formal art education and never even left her native village. Despite this, she created paintings where the flowers appear so realistic that they seem ready to come to life.

Bilokur’s paintings gained international recognition, and Pablo Picasso called her a brilliant artist. Her works are part of the collection at the National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine.

Олександра Екстер

Alexandra Exter

A Ukrainian artist who was one of the brightest representatives of the European avant-garde. Born in Białystok and raised in Kyiv, she became a central figure in Ukrainian and European Cubo-Futurism as well as Constructivism.

Her work combined Ukrainian folk motifs with avant-garde experiments in color, form, and space. She was known for her bold geometric compositions and vibrant use of color.

Today, the works of Alexandra Exter can be seen in museums around the world, including the National Art Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Олександр Архипенко за роботою

Alexander Archipenko

An outstanding Ukrainian and American sculptor and artist, one of the pioneers of cubism in sculpture. He introduced innovative elements into sculpture, such as polychromy, concavity, and holes, which changed the perception of spatial form. His innovative approaches to sculpture, including “sculpture” and “architecture”, greatly influenced the development of modern art. During his lifetime, he held more than 130 personal exhibitions, leaving a significant legacy in world culture.  His works are also kept in the National Art Museum of Ukraine.

Казимир Малевич

Kazimir Malevich

Ukrainian avant-garde artist and theoretician of art. The founder of a new artistic style – Suprematism, which emphasized absolute abstraction and simplicity of forms. Born in Kyiv to a Polish family, Malevich became one of the key figures in world modernism. His philosophy of Suprematism was that art should free itself from objects and material reality, achieving “pure feeling”. His works and ideas greatly influenced the development of modern art throughout the world.

Василь Кандинський

Wassily Kandinsky

World-famous artist of Ukrainian origin, and one of the founders of abstract art. Kandinsky was an innovator who believed in the ability of color and form to convey deep spiritual and emotional states, regardless of the subject image. He played a key role in the development of modern art, influencing various currents such as Expressionism and Bauhaus. His contributions made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and his works are held in the world’s leading museums.

Соня Делоне в образі Клеопатри

Sonia Delaunay

An exceptional Ukrainian-French artist and designer of Jewish origin who made a meaningful contribution to the development of the avant-garde and Orphism. Together with her husband, artist Robert Delaunay, she became the founder of Orphism, a movement in abstract art that emphasized the power of color and light. She created abstract compositions, often basing them on geometric shapes and bright color combinations, which became recognizable signs of her style. Sonia Delaunay‘s work became an important stage in the development of the European avant-garde, and her works are kept in the world’s leading museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Іван Труш, автопортрет

Ivan Trush

Prominent Ukrainian impressionist artist, art critic, and public figure. He was one of the key representatives of Western Ukrainian art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He created numerous images of Ukrainian nature and created portraits of outstanding figures of Ukrainian culture. Trush played an important role in the development of Ukrainian art, actively popularizing national culture. His contribution to the formation of Ukrainian fine art made him one of the most important figures in the cultural history of Ukraine. You can always get to know him at the Ivan Trush Art Memorial Museum.

Photo on the cover: T. Shevchenko. Pochaiv Lavra from the south. 1846. Paper, watercolor.
From the collection of the Taras Shevchenko National Museum