Mykola Vasyliovych Zhuravel

Sub-creator Established Creator UA

Artist, sculptor. Contemporary Ukrainian art, levitation.

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"For me, art is a way to overcome gravity. I look for the point where archaic roots meet the future, and a person finds their true freedom in a state of levitation—where the spirit becomes more significant than matter."

Mykola Zhuravel is a key figure of the Ukrainian "New Wave," merging painting, sculpture, and video art. His "levitation" method and encaustic technique create unique relief-canvases. Synthesizing archaic symbols and futuristic visions, his work has been featured at major global venues, including the Venice Biennale and prominent US art institutions.

Mykola Zhuravel is a philosopher-artist and a prominent figure in contemporary Ukrainian art. His "ethno-modernism" style reinterprets archaic symbols through the lens of modern technological and ecological challenges. His signature method synthesizes painting and sculpture: using levkas and encaustic techniques, he creates voluminous canvases that occupy the viewer's space. The concept of "levitation" serves as a metaphor for spiritual liberation and transcending the mundane. A central theme is his "Apiary" project, where the bee community models an ideal society. Internationally acclaimed, Zhuravel has exhibited at the 54th Venice Biennale and major institutions in the USA and Europe. His work is an intellectual puzzle exploring our roots, humanity's place in the universe, and the fragile balance between nature and civilization.

Represented by

Mironova Gallery

Credentials

Awards

2019 1st Prize — Ukrainian Triennial of Levkas, White World Gallery, Kyiv.
2016 1st Place — Ukrainian Triennial of Painting, Kyiv.
2016 1st Prize — Kunstverein ART-Projekt Worpswede, Germany.
2011 Nominee for the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.
2011 Participant of the 54th Venice Biennale ("Utopia" project, collateral program).
2009 Academician of the Rome Academy of Modern Art (Italy).
2009 Gold Medal of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.
2001 1st Prize (Painting) — 3rd International Art Festival, Magdeburg, Germany.
1998 1st Place — Ukrainian Triennial of Painting, Kyiv.
1996 "Golden Section" Award and "Artist of the Year" title — 1st International ART Festival, Kyiv.
Ranked among the TOP 30 best artists of Ukraine according to the "100 NAMES" publication.

Solo exhibitions

2025 "Land of the Unconquered", White World Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2024 "Levitation over the Abyss", Art Ukraine Gallery, Kyiv.
2023 "Invasion", Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA.
2022 "Territory of Freedom", Ukrainian Cultural Center, Warsaw, Poland.
2020 "Retrospective. Painting/Levkas", Museum of the History of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2018 "Retrospective", Korsak’s Museum of Contemporary Ukrainian Art, Lutsk, Ukraine.
2017 "Transformations of Space", White World CAC, Kyiv; Gary Bowman Gallery, Lviv.
2016 "Violence. Power. Ruler", Kunstverein ART-Projekt Worpswede, Berlin, Germany.
2016 "Invasion: Reload", Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA; White World CAC, Kyiv.
2014 "We Just Walked", Shevchenko National Museum, Kyiv; Ukrainian Institute, New York.
2013 "Anatomy of Spring", Mystetska Zbirka Gallery, Kyiv.
2013 Retrospective Exhibition, Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto, Canada; Zorya Fine Art, Greenwich, USA.
2012 "Coming Home", Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA), Chicago, USA.
2011 "Apiary", Venice Biennale (collateral project), Venice, Italy.
2010 Solo Exhibition, Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
2009 "Apiary" Project, Lavra Gallery, Kyiv.
2008 "Apiary" Project, Voltahalle Gallery, Basel, Switzerland.
2004 Retrospective of Projects, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA.
2003 "Apiary Sketch-Project", Soviart CAC, Kyiv; Municipal Gallery, Kharkiv.
1998 "Spherography-2", Soviart CAC, Kyiv; Triptych Gallery, Kyiv.
1992 Solo Exhibition, Lions Club, Seligenstadt / Hainburg, Germany.

Group exhibitions

2024 Photo London / Art London, Somerset House, London, UK.
2023 "Forms of Presence", M17 Contemporary Art Center, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2022 "Ukrainian Front: Art of the Unconquered", Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA.
2021 "30 Years of Independence", Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2019 XII Florence Biennale, International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Florence, Italy.
2019 "Texas Contemporary", Texas, USA; International Fall Exhibition, MORA, New York, USA.
2017 "Fixation of the Past", Shevchenko National Museum, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2016 All-Ukrainian Painting Triennial (1st prize), Kyiv, Ukraine.
2015 Art Kyiv Contemporary X, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2014 "Resistance of Materials", MARI, Kyiv; "SCOPE", New York, USA.
2010 EXPO – 2010, Ukrainian Pavilion, Shanghai, China.
2005 Photography Exhibition, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA.
2002 "Sophia's Symbols of Being 2" (with P. Bevza et al.), Kyiv, Ukraine.
2000 Joint exhibition with R. Romanyshyn, O. Pinchuk, M. Prymachenko, Yokohama, Japan.
1998 All-Ukrainian Painting Triennial (1st prize), Kyiv; Atelier Karas Gallery, Kyiv.
1994 First All-Ukrainian Art Fair, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Media coverage

International fairs

2024 Photo London / Art London, Somerset House, London, UK.
2023 "Art Basel" (Satellite projects of Ukrainian art), Basel, Switzerland.
2022 "Ukrainian Front: Art of the Unconquered", Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA.
2019 XII Florence Biennale, International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Florence, Italy.
2019 "Texas Contemporary", International Art Fair, Houston, Texas, USA.
2019 International Fall Exhibition, Museum of Russian Art (MORA), New York, USA.
2017 "Fixation of the Past", Shevchenko National Museum, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2016 All-Ukrainian Painting Triennial (First Prize), Kyiv, Ukraine.
2015 Art Kyiv Contemporary X, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2014 "SCOPE" New York, International Contemporary Art Fair, New York, USA.
2013 Art Toronto, International Art Fair, Toronto, Canada.
2011 54th Venice Biennale, "Utopia" project (collateral program), Venice, Italy.
2010 EXPO – 2010, Ukrainian Pavilion, Shanghai, China.
2009 Russian Art Fair, London, UK.
2008 Scope Basel, International Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
2005 Art Miami, International Contemporary Art Fair, Miami, USA.
2000 Joint exhibition with R. Romanyshyn, O. Pinchuk, and M. Prymachenko, Yokohama, Japan.
1999 Joint exhibition with M. Vaisberg and B. Yeghiazaryan, Bern, Switzerland.
1994 First All-Ukrainian Art Fair, Kyiv, Ukraine.
1994 First All-Ukrainian Art Fair, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Personal

Innovation in Levkas and Encaustic Techniques: Mykola Zhuravel transformed traditional sacred techniques into a modern language of relief painting. His works represent a complex synthesis of painting and sculpture, where texture becomes an independent meaningful element.
The Philosophical Concept of "Levitation": The artist developed a unique visual metaphor for overcoming gravity, symbolizing spiritual freedom and the human ability to rise above the mundane.
The "Apiary" (Bee-Humanity) Project: Creation of a large-scale artistic and social study where the life of a bee community serves as a mirror to human society, its hierarchy, labor, and connection to the cosmos.
Cultural Diplomacy: Extensive activity in the USA and Europe has allowed the artist to become a "cultural ambassador" for Ukraine, presenting contemporary Ukrainian art at institutions such as the Ukrainian Institute of America (New York) and UIMA (Chicago).
Museum Recognition: His works are included in the permanent collections of the National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU) and world-class private collections, confirming their high artistic and investment value.