Kobzar ART

Ukrainian Artist Mariya Lyzohub is Considered a Founder of the Kazakh National Art School

Mariya Lyzohub (1909-1998) was a renowned Ukrainian painter who later became one of the founders of the Kazakh national art school. A member of the Union of Artists of the USSR, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Kazakh SSR for her contributions to Kazakh art.

In Lyzohub's works, one can feel sincere kindness and amazing precision in depicting traditional Kazakh way of life and culture - the world that was slowly fading away, which the artist strived to understand and accept as part of the human heritage.

Although Lyzohub created numerous sketches, still life paintings, and portraits, she did not have many large-scale paintings. As the artist herself said, she never sought to paint numerous works. Each of her paintings she "gave birth to like children," giving them her all. In total, she produced about 11-12 paintings. First, Lyzohub would make a sketch, and then paint the work itself without it, coming up with the plot as she went.

Sketch 32 x 22 cm for the painting "Fairy Tale" by Maria Lyzohub from the collection of KobzarArt Gallery.

Over her prolific career, Mariya Lyzohub captured the spirit of Kazakh Socialist Realism in her art, portraying the culture and everyday life of the Kazakh people. Her most famous internationally acclaimed paintings include "Portrait of Cherkassky" (early 1950s), "Fairy Tale" (1958), "Youth", "Dawn", "Eternity".

The painting "Fairy Tale" (1958) is executed in oil on canvas and kept in the State Museum of Arts of Kazakhstan named after Abylkhan Kasteev in Almaty. It is a prime example of Lyzohub's Kazakh-themed works.

Painting "Youth" by Mariia Lysohub and the artist's sketches for the painting "Youth", 1950s-1960s

Through her art, Mariya Lyzohub made a major contribution to Kazakh national art school, while remaining connected to her Ukrainian roots.