90 years old and not a single pause in art

On May 12, 1936, in the village of Moskalivka in the Ternopil region, a future world-renowned Ukrainian artist was born into the family of a weaver - Ivan Marchuk.

Today, Ivan Marchuk’s name is known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. But his story is not one of an easy path to recognition. During the Soviet era, his art did not fit the official system. For nearly 20 years, Ivan Marchuk was effectively banned simply because he remained true to himself and his artistic vision.

Today, his creative legacy includes more than 5,000 artworks and over 150 solo exhibitions, while his paintings are held in private collections and museums around the world.

🖌️ In 2007, The Daily Telegraph included Ivan Marchuk in its list of the 100 Living Geniuses, making him the only Ukrainian artist to receive such recognition.

🖌️ In 2021, he became one of the first recipients of the National Legend of Ukraine award. At the ceremony, the President of Ukraine described the laureates as the living legends of the nation.

🖌️ His works continue to set records on the Ukrainian art market. The painting “The Moon Rose Over the Dnipro” was sold for $300,000, while works such as “Breath of Spring,” “Golden Night,” “Moonlit Night,” and “Two Parallels” rank among the most valuable pieces of Ukrainian art.

Yet Ivan Marchuk’s greatest value to Ukraine goes far beyond awards and records. He is proof that true talent can outlive censorship, borders, political regimes, and time itself. He did not simply create paintings - he helped create Ukraine’s cultural history.

And perhaps that is why, at the age of 90, Ivan Marchuk remains not only a great artist, but a living legend of Ukraine.

That is why #YearOfIvanMarchuk for us is a year of stories about a man whose art helped the world discover Ukraine. 🍷🇺🇦

#YearOfIvanMarchuk