I can die happy now. Of course, I went to New York City for the Outsider Art Fair — but we stayed for the Maria Prymachenko. And while the fair was filled with so many goodies, it is really hard for me not to say this exhibit when asked what was my favorite part of the trip.
Maria Prymachenko is one of my favorite artists. I’m not really sure how or why I stumbled across this Ukrainian folk artist years ago, but I’m very glad I did.
Part of the Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art permanent collection, works by Prymachenko are rarely exhibited outside the United States, often in Europe, most recently in London. And while I’m not sure this is the first time her works have been exhibited in the United States, it has to be the most extensive exhibit this country has ever seen from this brilliant folk artist.
For over 60 years, Maria Prymachenko created art based profoundly on her Ukrainian upbringing and wildly creative imagination. Despite having no formal art training, Prymachenko over the years was able to create a wide range of art: drawings, paintings, ceramics, illustrations, and even embroidered garments. She was known during her lifetime for her brilliantly colored and inventive scenes of animals – lions, bears, birds, horses, and strange behemoths – covered in riotously hued, almost psychedelic patterns. Additional themes included traditional village life, the Ukrainian landscape, and flowers. Always drawing on village traditions and later dreams for inspiration, Prymachenko also included creative critiques about various dramatic social events in her work. During the mid and late 20th century, she was Ukraine’s most beloved artist; her artworks have appeared on stamps and even the country’s coinage.
The Ukrainian Museum
“I bow down before the artistic miracle of this brilliant Ukrainian.”
— Pablo Picasso
The amount of work was jaw-dropping. I walked around in circles over and over again, just to make sure I was able to soak it all in. From textiles, to paint on plates, the early works from 1930s and the more quirky, imaginative, and vibrant works she is more commonly know for created in the 1980s. This exhibit has it all and is absolutely worth your time.
Please enjoy these works as I tried to do them as much justice as possible. And stay tuned to all things FolkArtwork for nearly weekly posts of Maria Prymachenko.
Every day you can find a brand new piece of folk, self-taught, outsider or visionary art from one of the leading museums, galleries, and collections from across the world. For even more art, follow @folkartwork on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to the “This Week in Outsider Art” newsletter on Substack for two opportunities a week to see even more art, views of my personal collection, finds of the week and a list of must-see shows from across the country.
Leave a Reply