Vasylenko Volodymyr Viktorovych (1925-1997)

Born in Kislovodsk, Stavropol region. Graduated from Odessa Art School (1947-1951) and Kyiv Art Institute (1951-1957). Teacher by specialty - O. Shovkunenko.  Also taught at the Kyiv Art Institute since 1961. The artist who was equally skillful in the techniques of realism and impressionism in the second half of his career turned to cubism and avant-garde of the Kyiv School of Professor Mykhailo Boychuk*, but it did not please the officials and critics of the time.  Monumental portraits and figures of historical characters, philosophical and symbolic content made in the best traditions of the avant-garde school, received neither approval nor recognition of contemporaries. For this reason, he did not have the opportunity to participate in exhibitions and his work is poorly represented in museums.  Active in Kyiv.

*Boychuk Mykhailo (1882-1937) Professor of painting, founder of the modernist style (Boychukism) in Ukrainian art of the 1910s-1930s, based on avant-garde, Byzantine monumental painting, and rural naive art. Executed by Stalin's regime.

Gouache on cardboard.  Signature verso.  Size: 19x20 cm (7 1/2 x 8 in).