Andriy Shpak
Ukrainian artist (1962-1995)
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Andriy Ivanovych Shpak (Ukrainian: Андрій Іванович Шпак; 7 January 1962 – 31 August 1995) was a Ukrainian self-taught painter active during the 1980s and 1990s.[1][2]
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7 January 1962
Ukraine
Andriy Shpak | |
|---|---|
Autoportrait (1987) | |
| Born | Andriy Ivanovych Shpak 7 January 1962 |
| Died | 31 August 1995 (aged 33) |
| Citizenship | Soviet Union Ukraine |
| Known for | self-taught painting |
| Movement | Authentical art |
Biography
Andriy Shpak was born on 7 January, 1962 in Kolomyia. It is known that he studied at secondary school No. 9, where he held his first personal exhibition.[3][2] He received his education at a local art school.[4] According to the memoirs of Halyna Hrabets, he helped her make simple children's animal masks for many operas.[2]
At first he worked in the Pioneer House (painting, drawing) and in the district department of culture, as he was unable to enter the Lviv Art Institute, and in 1980–1982 he served in the Soviet Army in Leningrad.[5]
In July 1990, Shpak's bookplates were exhibited at an exhibition on the occasion of the World Council of Spiritual Ukraine.[6] In 1991, on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the first chronicle mention of Kolomyia in the Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttya, Shpak's paintings were exhibited at the exhibition "Modern Painting of Kolomyia".[7] During the celebration of the first City Day in the cafe "Theatralna Kamerata", the artist, as stated in the newspaper "Visnyk Kolomyi" of 24 August 1994, "an original painter with a real herring and on temporary crutches" presented one of his best paintings to the famous violinist Ivan Arsenych.[8] At the same time, as eyewitness of those events Mykola Vasylchuk recalled during the youth gatherings for the 750th anniversary: “Even the artist Andriy Shpak danced with a broken leg”.[9]
At the same time, with the assistance of his wife Lydia Shpak, a personal exhibition was created in the lobby of the local dramatical theater. It was featured by the famous singer Nina Matvienko, to whom he gave his painting.[7]
In August 1992, he held a personal exhibition at the National Museum of Folk Art of Hutsul and Pokuttya named after Yosafat Kobrynsky, which he dedicated to his father. The paintings “Niko Pirosmani”, “Mr. Kasha!”, “Spring Landscape”, etc. were exhibited there. Oles' Frela noted that, despite the lack of proper education, he painted paintings in various directions and genres.[10] In 1996, a portrait of the famous writer Taras Melnychuk on canvas, made in 1991, was published in the magazine of the Writers' Union of Ukraine “Dzvin” (part 1).[11]
Andriy Shpak died on 31 August 1995 in Kolomyia, at the age of 33.[4]
After his death, many of Andriy Shpak's works were kept in the apartments of his first wife Lydia Shpak, his second wife Oleksandra Hunderuk, Lyudmila Sheremeta, and others, and in the collections of the National Museum of Folk Art and Pokuttya.[12][3]
Exbitions after death
In 1997, paintings by Andriy Shpak were exhibited at the National Museum of Folk Art of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttya.[2] In December 2005, an exhibition of paintings by Shpak and Vasyl Konovalyuk opened at the Museum of Easter Egg Painting.[4]
On 7 October 2010, the exhibition halls of the National Museum of Folk Art of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttya hosted the opening of the vernissage “Masterpieces on Ears,” organized by the Club of Kolomyians, which exhibited paintings by A. Shpak.[13] On March 6, 2018, his painting “Taras Shevchenko. Portrait” from 1991 was used during an exhibition dedicated to the 204th anniversary of Taras Shevchenko’s birth at the Museum of the History of the City of Kolomyia.[14]
On 30 November 2020, a joint exhibition of works by Andriy Shpak, his daughter Lyubava Sobutska, and his ex-wife, fashion designer Lydia Shpak, was organized at the Svitovyd Art Center.[1][15] The event was supposed to take place on 14 November but it was postponed due to covid-19 pandemic.[16] On 13 January 2024, the artist's works were presented at an exhibition of paintings and graphics entitled "ОГО ЛЕ НІ СТЬ" at the Kolomyia Philharmonic named after O. Kozarenko.[17]
On 12 February 2026, an exhibition of paintings by Shpak opened at the Museum of the History of the City of Kolomyia.[3][5]
On 6 March 2026, an auction in memory of Shpak was held at the Museum of the History of the City — the funds went to purchase a reconnaissance drone for his son Oleksa and his comrades from the "Lyut'" brigade. At that time, 56 thousand hryvnias were collected — 54,500 during the auction and another 1,500 from the raffle.[18]