Kateryna Bilokur
Born in 1900 in a small village of Poltava region, Kateryna’s life was bound to be one of the typical cases of the beginning of the century: work in the field, kids, help the husband…and be forgotten, basically. She, however, wanted a different path for herself — since early childhood Kateryna had been painting. Parents didn’t approve such a hobby and forbade any attempts at creativeness of their daughter, claiming it would take up time from her working around household. For some time she satisfied art impulses with activity at the local drama club, but the deeply-rooted dissatisfaction and frustration led to a suicide attempt several years later. Only then did her family let Kateryna do as she wanted. Thus started the career of one of the most renown women painters in Ukraine — done mostly in the style of primitivism and skillfully depicting flowers.
Mariia Prymachenko
Certainly the most renown representative of Ukrainian art naive, Mariia Prymachenko’s painting had been inspiring designers for many years. She was born in a family of creative people: her father was a carving specialist, mother did skillful embroidery and made clothes for the whole family, grandmother painted pysanky (Ukrainian Eastern egg decorated with folk motifs). Mariia’s childhood was spiked with poliomyelitis, which made it incredibly difficult for her to sew and draw. However, she carried on strong and didn’t give up — in fact, she decorated the family house and did the same for many neighbors. Her most famous series «Beasts in Bolotnia» (1935-1941) are well-known and recognized in Ukraine.
Read: Peyzazhna Sculpture Alley in Kiev
Mykola Hlushchenko
Ukraine’s own James Bond (or rather Ian Fleming), Hlushchenko had worked for over 20 years in Soviet intelligence service. During the roaring 20s, young painter got his education at Berlin Art Academy and soon organized his first exhibition. After moving to Paris, he continued exploring his own style, digging the symbolism, and helped to organize exhibitions of Ukrainian artists abroad. He was one of the first Soviet intelligence officers that knew about Nazi’s plan to invade Europe. After the WWII, Hlushchenko settled in Kyiv and started painting full-time. Some of his works are missing till the day, estimated in 100 thousand dollars.
Adalbert Erdeli
One of the prominent figures of the Transcarpathian art, Adalbert was born in a family of a Hungarian minority, when Zahattia still belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. During the WWI he studied at the Budapest Art Academy and later, along with another prominent Ukrainian artist, Yosyp Bokshai, founded an art-school in Uzhorod. This was the beginning of art as a serious matter in Transcarpathia. Erdeli chose to educate his place of birth instead of seeking fame elsewhere, and thus planted his name in the hearts of young Western artists for generations. His works are greatly inspired by impressionists, and paintings are estimated to cost 1 million dollars.
Read: Art Museums in Kyiv
Photo sources: wikiart.com, uahistory.com, artslooker.com, uart.eu, life.pravda.com.ua.
Famous Ukrainian Artists of 20th Century
Among the names of Van Gogh, Cézanne and Dali hide the lesser known but just as talented painters, valued by art critics and ardently searched for private art collections. Ukraine is full of those, too, and the 20th century brought out talents, some of which were rightfully recognized only years later. One of these artists will surprise you as you have seen and know her works very well.
