Copyright Lawsuit Forces Ukrainian Artist Ivan Marchuk to Halt European Exhibitions

The Case Against Ivan Marchuk

According to Главком: Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk has been compelled to suspend his exhibition activities in the United Kingdom and Switzerland due to an ongoing copyright lawsuit. In July 2025, he initiated legal proceedings against individuals who allegedly infringed upon the rights to reproduce images of his artwork. The court case has now lasted for over five months. Marchuk stated that fraudulent actions forced him to cancel the exhibitions and that he is hoping for a just ruling from the court.

A Disputed Contract and Its Fallout

A contract signed in 2020 is at the heart of the dispute. This agreement, signed by five individuals including Marchuk himself, was a licensing deal granting exclusive rights to use images of all his paintings for a period of 100 years. Under this contract, Marchuk was reportedly to receive 10,000 hryvnias (approximately $360 at the time) and a 5% royalty from licensing income. However, it has since been revealed that the artist never received any payments stipulated by this agreement.

Judge Taras Yakimets of the Ternopil City District Court inquired about the possibility of a settlement between the parties, but Marchuk's lawyer stated that reconciliation was impossible. Furthermore, law enforcement authorities in the capital have opened a criminal investigation related to the case.

In 2021, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commissioned the creation of an Ivan Marchuk Museum and Cultural Center. Since then, charitable funds have been collected to realize the museum project by Ukraine's 30th Independence Day, but the museum has yet to be established. Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy Ivan Verbytskyi has commented on the fate of these funds.

Ivan Marchuk, who turns 90 this year, has also shared his thoughts on the ethics of establishing a museum during wartime. He noted that throughout all four years of the full-scale war, he has worked actively and represented Ukraine through his exhibitions in various countries worldwide, including:

• Chicago
• Madrid
• Riga
• Krakow
• Gdansk
• Vatican City
• Vienna
• Salzburg

'All my projects have been for image, not for business.' - Ivan Marchuk

Marchuk is a renowned figure in Ukrainian art, often referred to as a national treasure, which makes this legal battle particularly significant. The situation underscores the critical importance of copyright protection in the arts, especially amid contemporary challenges. Concurrently, questions regarding the museum's creation and the use of charitable donations for its realization remain pressing, potentially impacting the artist's legacy and future work. Observing these developments reveals how legal and ethical considerations intersect in the world of culture and art, particularly under the conditions of war and social change in Ukraine.