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A century ago, fine art and folk art were considered separate entities. Rigid academic conventions designated their practitioners as, on the one hand, “artists” and, on the other, “applied artists” or artisans or craftspeople. The unique character of Ukrainian modern art lies precisely in the fact that these two worlds were always closely allied in the nation’s cultural consciousness. Despite the hierarchies imposed by European academics, most Ukrainians recognized no real division between these two powerful forms of human expression. The exhibition A Living Canvas: The Ukrainian Museum at 50 traces the continuities inherent in a native Ukrainian aesthetic. It focuses on formal elements that illustrate the deep affinities between the fine and folk art creations of Ukrainian masters — works that, collectively, express a worldview of hope and expectation, an ever-present quality of the Ukrainian sensibility.

A Living Canvas also pays tribute to the curatorial team that shaped it and to the institutional memory its members embody: Dr. Myroslava M. Mudrak, Professor Emerita of Art History at The Ohio State University, who has defined the critical frameworks through which Ukrainian modernism is understood; Lubow Wolynetz, the Museum’s Folk Art Curator, whose deep knowledge of the collection’s textile and decorative holdings is unparalleled; founding Director Maria Shust, under whose leadership the Museum’s foundational identity was formed; Dr. Olha Yarema-Wynar, Olha Yarema-Wynar, Textile Conservator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for over 20 years; and Dr. Maria Rewakowicz, current Head of Collections, whose stewardship has continued the Museum’s mission to preserve and expand the permanent collection. These five are not only the architects of the exhibition; they are part of the story it brings to life. 

The exhibition presents The Ukrainian Museum’s collection as it has never been experienced before. In lieu of a conventional thematic or chronological account of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, A Living Canvas is organized around the formal threads that weave the fine arts with the decorative art of textiles, costume, and folk art across centuries and geographies. This organization reflects something essential about Ukrainian art: that the boundary between the village workshop and the artist’s studio was always fluid and mutually beneficial. The connections between the woven kilim and the painted canvas, the embroidered rushnyk (ritual cloth) and the modernist composition are materially tangible by sharing the same visual language. A Living Canvas makes visible their common qualities.

Before A Living Canvas opens to the public on May 17, members are invited for the exhibition preview on May 16, 6-8 pm. Join us for an evening among the works — and among the community that has sustained this Museum for fifty years. Members can RSVP through the provided link.

Our Art Bazaar is an opportunity for you to explore and purchase paintings and prints by unknown and forgotten artists. No registration required.

Price range: $25 – $750 plus sales tax. Cash, checks or credit cards accepted.

The Ukrainian Museum is pleased to participate in the Downtown Culture Walk, a self-guided walking tour presented by the SoHo Arts Network (SAN), which highlights non-profit art spaces in the SoHo and downtown neighborhoods. Open hours and other programming will be offered at member locations for free or reduced admission. The Ukrainian Museum will offer free admission from 12 – 6 pm. The Museum’s current exhibitions, Boris Mihailov: Parliament and Yesterday’s Sandwich series, The Wreath: A Century of Women Beyond the Ocean,” and PYSANKA – The Guardian of Life, are on view. Admission is free, but registration is requested on Zeffy through the provided link. 

The Museum will also be offering a family workshop, Petrykivka Folk Painting & Math, for families with children ages 5 – 11 with two sessions during the open house, and tickets will be sold for a nominal fee at the door. For all details, please see our webpage for youth and family programs. 

Copies of the Downtown Culture Walk brochure/map will be available at the Museum’s admissions desk. 

Join us for a relaxed and festive gathering filled with conversation, reflection, and connection as we look ahead to an exciting milestone — the Museum’s upcoming 50th Anniversary. This evening is our opportunity to express deep gratitude for your loyalty and ongoing support, which makes everything we do possible.

Bring a Friend

Each member is invited to bring one guest who has not yet joined the Museum. Personal invitations are the most meaningful way to introduce new people to our community.

Join us for an informal conversation over tea with Milo Rau, one of the most influential voices in contemporary theater. This special Q&A will bring together members of the Ukrainian artistic community—students, faculty, theater professionals, and visiting Ukrainian students—for a discussion on culture, memory, resistance, and the role of art in times of war and political change.

Milo Rau is a Swiss theater director, author, journalist, and activist renowned for his political and documentary theater. Founder of the International Institute of Political Murder and Artistic Director of the Wiener Festwochen since 2023, he has created acclaimed productions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, exploring themes of justice, displacement, violence, and collective memory. His work has made him one of the most influential and debated artists of our time.

RSVP to [email protected].

AFTER DARK is brought to you by KOLO, a dynamic event series for young members of our community, offering a space to connect over art, culture, and wine. KOLO (Ukrainian for circle, as in circle of friends) nurtures the next generation of artists and thinkers. These events give young art enthusiasts a space to both engage with Ukrainian culture and build lasting relationships with artists, art enthusiasts, East Village neighbors, Hromada (Ukrainian for “community”) and their fellow peers.

The Ukrainian Museum will open its doors for a daylong free community event in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In partnership with artist Maya Hayuk, UNWLA, Razom, Yara Arts Group, and New York Bandura School, we’ll gather for workshops, film screenings, poetry readings, musical performances, and more. This is a day to come together, reflect, and stand in solidarity with Ukraine. All are welcome. Light refreshments provided. Registration is requested on Eventbrite but walk-ins are welcome.