Paintings by Ivan Marchuk Discovered in the Collections of Kolomoisky and Other Top Officials

Ivan Marchuk's 90th Birthday

According to Главком: On May 12, 2026, Ivan Marchuk will celebrate his 90th birthday, an event that has drawn significant attention from collectors, art enthusiasts, and politicians alike. To mark the occasion, several exhibitions are planned, showcasing many of the artist's works, along with a celebration at the Orangery of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Notable collectors of Marchuk's paintings include Serhiy Taruta, a People's Deputy from the Batkivshchyna party and former head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, who declared a 2010 landscape by the artist. In 2016, Marchuk and Taruta shared a friendly embrace at a Kyiv anniversary exhibition, highlighting their mutual appreciation for art. Works by the artist are also owned by Ukrainian writer Maria Matios and former Naftogaz head Andriy Kobolyev. Additionally, the painting 'Silhouette' was once owned by Taras Podvirny, a representative of the Verkhovna Rada's Human Rights Commissioner in Lviv region, but it disappeared from his declaration in 2021. This painting has now been spotted on the Goldens auction house website, valued between $70,000 and $100,000.

Ivan Marchuk's Artistic Legacy

Ivan Marchuk's body of work includes over 5,000 pieces, and he has held more than 150 solo and around 50 group exhibitions. Among the most expensive sales of his paintings are the following:

• Moonrise over the Dnipro (1980) - sold for $300,000 on June 8, 2024
• Breath of Spring (1995) - $118,000 on May 22, 2025
• Two Parallels (1992) - $100,300 on December 18, 2025
• Golden Night (1981) - $96,800 on June 1, 2021
• Moonlit Night (1979) - $88,500 on March 18, 2026

The exhibition 'I Shook This World,' currently running at the Museum of the History of Kyiv, features around 200 canvases, including a prophetic portrait of Viktor Yushchenko displayed for the first time in 20 years.

On May 12, the Chocolate House Art Center will open the exhibition 'Ivan Marchuk. Museum Collections,' presenting works from the funds of 11 Ukrainian museums, spanning from the 1960s to the present day.

Ivan Marchuk is a generous individual. He gifted paintings to many prominent political and public figures, especially during the Soviet era when he was under a ban. Among the collectors are former Supreme Court head Vasyl Onopenko and renowned diplomat Yuriy Shcherbak. Interestingly, during a search of Ihor Kolomoisky's home-who has been in a pre-trial detention center since September 2023-Marchuk's paintings were found on the walls of his apartment, even though the businessman never personally reached out to the artist.

The significance of Ivan Marchuk's anniversary extends beyond a mere celebratory event; it underscores his impact on contemporary Ukrainian art and cultural heritage.

The exhibitions taking place in various cities offer new generations a chance to engage with his work, which was shaped amid historical challenges. Marchuk's art has become a vital element of national identity, and his paintings continue to attract collectors and art lovers worldwide.

As the excitement builds around Ivan Marchuk's upcoming 90th birthday celebrations, it's worth noting that President Zelenskyy has recently initiated plans to establish a dedicated museum for Marchuk's works. This effort reflects the growing recognition of Marchuk's artistic contributions and aims to preserve his legacy for future generations. To learn more about this significant initiative, visit Zelenskyy's plan for a Marchuk museum.