Treasures of Ukraine chronicles the arts and heritage of Ukraine at a time when the country’s people, culture, landmarks, and artworks are facing destruction and devastation. Created in partnership with a group of renowned artists, curators, and critics, this record of architectural monuments and artworks reaches from prehistory to the present day.
Organized chronologically across eight chapters, Treasures of Ukraine contains more than 220 color images that showcase everything from Scythian gold, Byzantine icons, and wooden churches to gold-domed cathedrals, avant-garde masterpieces, and political art after the Orange Revolution, while accompanying texts reveal the history and significance behind the pieces. Examples of vernacular art weave Ukraine’s dynamic and inextinguishable folk narrative through the book, providing visual texture as well as a sense of the nation’s living history.
This is a compelling account of Ukraine’s history, told through the prism of a carefully curated selection of key monuments, architectural landmarks, and works of art. All proceeds will go to PEN Ukraine, to help Ukrainian authors in need.
Reviews
A timely reminder of how much is at stake in the ongoing war with Russia… Features a broad range of Ukrainian art… Much of Ukraine's art is tied to religion…but as this book shows, Ukraine is no stranger to Modernism, Art Nouveau or the Avant-garde.
— NPR
A corrective to Putin's version of history, in which Ukraine has been nothing more than a part of Russia… Introduced by the novelist Andrey Kurkov, the book features eight Ukrainian academics, curators and art critics writing about works of art created inhabitants of the region, from Scythian stone stelae of the 6th century B.C. to recent videos made by graduates of the National University of Cinema in Kyiv.
— The Washington Post
With chapters on Orthodox icons and Catholic cathedrals, Soviet avant-gardism and nationalist folk crafts, this book illustrates a culture whose very diversity now puts it in danger.
— The New York Times
This gorgeous book documents the history of Ukrainian art and culture through more than 220 photographs of the country's religious buildings, masterpieces, architectural monuments, and more.
— Washingtonian
Engaging and enlightening… Tells Ukraine's broader history through a survey of its art.
— New York Journal of Books
Well-designed… [Readers] might be surprised at the breadth of art that constitutes the Ukrainian traditions… A good read.
— Hyperallergic (One of Hyperallergic's Best Art Books of 2022)
Contributors
Andrey Kurkov
Foreword By
Andrey Kurkov is Ukraine's most acclaimed living novelist and public commentator.
Andriy Puchkov
Contributions By
Andriy Puchkov is a specialist in Ukrainian architecture and author of more than two dozen monographs.
Christian Raffensperger
Contributions By
Christian Raffensperger is professor of history and department chair at Wittenberg University.
Diana Klochko
Contributions By
Diana Klochko is a prominent art historian and author of 65 Masterpieces of Ukrainian Art.
Maksym Yaremenko
Contributions By
Maksym Yaremenko is a Professor at the Department of History at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Alisa Lozhkina
Contributions By
Alisa Lozhkina is a leading art historian, critic, and curator. She was the editor in chief of the major Ukrainian art magazine Art Ukraine and served as a deputy director and chief curator of Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv, the largest museum and exhibition complex in Ukraine. Lozhkina has curated numerous art projects in Ukrainian and international museums and art centers, and published several books. She has contributed to numerous publications including Texte zur Kunst, The Art Newspaper, ARTnews, Etudes Sur L'Histoire de l'Art, and Los Angeles Review of Books. She is also an artist.
Myroslava M. Mudrak
Contributions By
Myroslava M. Mudrak is Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Ohio State University and a member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Soloviev
Contributions By
Oleksandr Soloviev is a leading art critic and an expert in Ukrainian contemporary art.
Victoria Burlaka
Contributions By
Victoria Burlaka specializes in contemporary art.
