The Stedley Art Foundation is pleased to support an exhibition exploring the profound influence of Ukrainian folk art on the development of Ukrainian modernism and the avant-garde in the early 20th century. This vibrant visual tradition—rich in color, geometry, and symbolism—inspired pioneering artists such as Kazimir Malevich, Alexandra Exter, and Vasyl Yermylov, who drew from folk aesthetics to develop bold new visual languages that helped redefine modern art.
The exhibition highlights how folk art, rooted in the everyday life of Ukrainian villages, shaped the formal and conceptual innovations of these artists, leading to a synthesis of the traditional and the avant-garde. Kharkiv, in particular, emerged as a hub of design and artistic experimentation under Yermylov’s guidance, carrying forward the legacy of folk traditions into modern education and practice.
The Stedley Art Foundation is proud to have loaned nine works from its collection to this important exhibition, reaffirming our commitment to preserving and promoting Ukraine’s rich artistic heritage.
16 May – 24 August 2025
Ukrainian Museum of Modern Art, Kyiv
Photos © Kateryna Ostapenko, courtesy of the Ukrainian Museum.