At 90, Ivan Marchuk Reflects on an Underground Art School and a Painting Sold at Sotheby’s

Ivan Marchuk Turns 90

According to Главком: Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk celebrated his 90th birthday on May 12. On this occasion, he shared memories of how painter Karl Zvirynskyi shaped his work, described an underground art school in Lviv, and discussed his signature technique known as plontanism. A permanent exhibition of his pieces, including the Shevchenkiana series, also opened at the Chocolate House art center in Kyiv. Another milestone: Marchuk’s painting 'Peace Has Settled Here' sold at Sotheby’s for €72,000, well above its pre-sale estimate.

Karl Zvirynskyi’s Lasting Impact

Marchuk said the greatest influence on his art came from painter Karl Zvirynskyi, who taught at the vocational school in the 1950s.

“Zvirynskyi worked at the school when I was a student there. We met again later at the Institute, where he was a professor. By the time I was in the army, his underground school on Adam Mickiewicz Street in Lviv was already active,”

the artist recalled. Marchuk spent several years studying at this secret school, which Zvirynskyi ran for a small group of students, including Marchuk, Zenoviy Flinta, and Petro Markovych.

“What could a village boy like me know about art? For me, drawing meant copying something or reproducing it from life. Zvirynskyi showed me that creating and copying are completely different,” Marchuk said. He also emphasized that Zvirynskyi taught him to seek new artistic paths:

“Not just abstraction, but something new, unlike anything else. He wasn’t a Soviet artist-he was European.”

Marchuk is a People’s Artist of Ukraine and a recipient of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize. Over his career, he has produced thousands of canvases and invented his own technique, plontanism. On his 90th birthday, he unveiled a new permanent exhibition that, alongside the Shevchenkiana series, features works tracing his artistic evolution. A highlight of the show is the chance to see pieces that mark key stages of his creative journey.

At Sotheby’s, Marchuk’s painting 'Peace Has Settled Here' sold for €72,000, surpassing its estimate of €40,000–€60,000. This sale underscores the international recognition of his work and his role in shaping Ukrainian art.

Marchuk’s 90th birthday marks a significant milestone not only in his personal career but also for Ukrainian art as a whole. The exhibition at the Chocolate House and the strong Sotheby’s result reflect growing global interest in Ukrainian artists. Marchuk’s distinctive plontanism technique continues to inspire new generations of creators and art lovers, bridging past and present.

As Ivan Marchuk reflects on his artistic journey and recent successes, it's worth noting that his works have garnered attention not only in galleries but also in the private collections of influential figures. Discover how paintings by Marchuk were recently uncovered among the collections of prominent personalities, revealing the broader impact of his artistry in contemporary Ukraine. For more details, visit this article.