The Life and Legacy of Maria Prymachenko

The story of one of Ukraine’s most renowned artists is one of immense struggle, passion, and inspiration. Maria Oksentiyivna Prymachenko was born on January 12, 1909, to a peasant family in the village of Bolotnia (north of the modern Kiev region). She contracted Polio when she was just seven years old; the illness left her debilitated, without the ability to stand freely for the better part of two decades. It was this limited mobility and her mother having taught her embroidery at a young age that was responsible for first sparking her interest in art. Her works were inspired by the scenery of the Ukrainian countryside and the fairytales of her childhood. She was self-taught, having never gained a formal education in art, rendering her a master of naiveté (an art style marked for its brightness and innocence). Her style evolved over the years, shifting from embroidery to paint-on-canvas works, but it always maintained a similar feel, unique to the culture of her people. In 1966, she was awarded the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine, the highest recognition of Ukraine for works of culture or art. Throughout her carrer, she created over 800 works, 650 of which sit today in the National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Art in Kyiv.  The rich colors and intricate style of her pieces resonated with audiences across the world during her life, and still do long after. 

In the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum, housing several of her works, was deliberately attacked, leading to the irreparable loss of some of her pieces. Yet, her legacy lives on in spite of this tragedy, and Maria Prymachenko will be remembered for her incredible story and the magnificent art that she shared with the world.