Polly Chesnokova

6 February 2025 – 27 April 2025

Vladimir Tatlin (Ukrainian: Volodymyr), the prominent avant-garde artist and founder of Constructivism, was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and lived and worked in Kyiv from 1925 until 1927. This pioneering exhibition recreates the artist’s Kyiv studio and chronicles the work made during this period within the museum space, depicting the actual environment in which his art was conceived and created for the very first time. Tatlin: Kyiv serves as an educational catalyst for the decolonization of Ukrainian art through the lens of Tatlin’s work, contributing to the preservation of Ukrainian history and cultural discourse.  

Tatlin’s illustration and design work with local Kyiv journals, book publishers, and theatre productions are highlighted for the first time. Additionally, the work of artists who studied under Tatlin at the Kyiv Institute of Art, where he taught a multi-disciplinary class that combined sculpture, film, and photography, are also on display. Tatlin: Kyiv reexamines a major gap in the discourse of art history to include Tatlin’s work of the late 1920s.

19 December 2024 – 23 March 2025

This exhibition showcases thirteen artists from the Museum’s permanent collection who acknowledge the versatility and impact of Ukrainian folk art tradition on their artistic practice, while striving for an innovative edge in designs that combine both functionality and beauty. The rich tradition of Ukrainian decorative crafts, including embroidery, weaving, wood carving, glass, and pottery, as well as such folk symbols as the tree of life or pysanky (Easter eggs), find their manifestations in the displayed objects in a thoroughly transformed way, as if looking through a contemporary lens. The featured artists, whether from Ukraine or the diaspora, share a common heritage. Their works represent the wide spectrum of materials typically used in contemporary decorative and applied arts, from textiles to wood, from ceramics to glass and stone. 

A key aspect of Beyond Tradition is its diversity of genres: a tapestry is in a dialog with filigreed ceramic bowls; abstract wood sculptures converse with glass vases; a textile artwork is juxtaposed with a stone sculpture with a shattered pysanka. Each artist presents their own unique way of reinterpreting the known cultural tradition to showcase new dimensions in contemporary designs.

27 September 2024 – 19 January 2025

This exhibition furthers the Ukrainian Museum’s decolonization efforts and positions prominent artists of the early 20th century in the Ukrainian spotlight. Alexander Archipenko, David Burliuk, Alexander Bohomazov, Maria Syniakova, Vasyl Yermylov, Alexis Gritchenko, and others will be presented in the context of Ukrainian art and culture’s development, innovations, and traditions, which for decades were suppressed and appropriated by Russian imperialism. Volia in Ukrainian translates to freedom and also denotes willpower and a longing for freedom. This concept encapsulated the avant-garde movements in Ukraine, which are breaking free from Russian narratives and falsehoods more than ever before. The show will be on view from 27 September to 19 January 2025, concurrently with Alexandra Exter: The Stage Is a World. 

27 September 2024 – 19 January 2025

UKR|RUS, a sculptural work by Molly Gochman, invites us to question the devastating human cost and destruction caused by aggressive imperialism, and to celebrate the resilience of Ukrainians, their rich cultural history, and the future that so many are fighting to defend. Taking the shape of the Ukraine-Russia border as it is defined by Ukraine and recognized by international law, the work draws parallels between physical and metaphorical boundaries, explores the complex dynamics that exist around borders, and provides a space to center and reflect upon the ongoing struggle of Ukraine and its people.

Constructed using an assemblage of reclaimed wood, rubble, and various types of ground surface materials including marble, UKR|RUS recognizes the scars of conflict while simultaneously suggesting the possibility of rebuilding and healing. In the wake of major geopolitical events and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Gochman’s sculptures serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the suffering of those caught in the crosshairs of imperialism. By positioning parts of the bench in historically Ukrainian communities across New York City, UKR|RUS will be paired with programming at cultural institutions and organizations that support and exemplify Ukrainian culture.

The installation is on display alongside the Alexandra Exter: The Stage Is a World and Volia: Ukrainian Modernism exhibitions.

21 June – 08 December 2024

This unique exhibition of current and historical maps of Ukraine offers visitors a rare opportunity to delve into the country’s complex and rich history. By juxtaposing modern maps with those from centuries past, the exhibition promotes a deeper understanding of how Ukraine’s borders, cities, and landscapes have evolved over time – for example, by tracing the changing political boundaries of Ukraine, from the 1600s to modern-day independence, and witnessing the impact of historical events such as wars, revolutions, and treaties on the country’s geographical makeup.

The exhibition also features maps of Ukraine that provide a glimpse into the country’s cultural and ethnic diversity. These maps highlight the distribution of various ethnic groups, languages, and religions within Ukraine’s borders, thereby shedding light on the country’s rich tapestry of identities. Additionally, it will be augmented with a variety of rare and contemporary books focusing on the iconography of maps, major cities, and historic locations within Ukraine.

The exhibition serves as a valuable learning tool, allowing visitors to connect with the country’s past and present in a visually engaging manner. The current and historical maps provide an important perspective on Ukraine’s geographical, political, and cultural landscape, inviting viewers to explore and appreciate the country’s complex history.