In Conversation with Leonard Krawchuk
(October 2025)

Alexandra Shkandrij talks to notable collector Leonard Krawchuck about his collection and his early years, and the importance of preserving the intangible heritage inherent in these works.

Collecting the Remarkable • An Afternoon With Leonard Krawchuk
October 2025

Filmed at St.Volodymyr Institute, this presentation features collector Leonard Krawchuk in conversation with moderator Alexandra Shkandrij. Leonard reflects on his travels to Ukraine – including two visits during the Soviet era – his encounters with master artisans, the challenges of preserving fragile folk art, and the relationships he built with fellow collectors across the Ukrainian diaspora.

The Gallery features an extraordinary bridal wreath unique to the village of Velykyi Klyuchiv, seemingly floating mid-air. This replica, made by Paraska Kushlyak, is constructed from curly feathers from a goose’s neck, along with ribbons, tinsel, beads, yarn, paper, and candy wrappers. Many of these materials were chosen for their reflective qualities to ward off evil during the wedding.

Paraska Kushlyak

Kliuchiv wedding wreath, 2000s

Goose feathers, ribbons, tinsel,
beads, yarn, paper, candy wrappers

Kosiv painted ceramics, a vibrant expression of Hutsul folk art dating back to the 16th–17th centuries, are characterized by a green, yellow, and brown palette on a white ground, featuring geometric, floral, and narrative motifs.  In 2019, Kosiv's painted ceramics were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. This exhibition presents works by classic and contemporary masters, including P. Tsvilyk, N. Verbivs’ka, V. Shvets, and others. 

Vasyl’ & Oleksandra Shvets’

A contemporary artist, Vasyl’ creates large vases, plates, and tiles in which traditional Hutsul motifs take on a modern expression. His works are rich in narratives, depicting holidays, everyday life, and legends, and are held in museums and private collections.

Pavlina Tsvilyk
(1891–1964) 

One of the most renowned Kosiv ceramic artists, Pavlina created utilitarian and decorative objects with clearly defined traditional forms. She favoured yellow, using it generously and in her own distinctive way. Her works had a significant influence on the development of the Kosiv ceramic school and its subsequent formation.

Nadiya Verbivs’ka
(1929–2011)

Nadiya’s works are characterized by clear composition, harmonious colours, and subtle rhythm. She upheld the traditions of the Kosiv school, preserving continuity while expanding its artistic possibilities, integrating traditional ornamentation with a modern sense of form.

Dmytro Shkriblyak
(1925–2008) 

A master carver from the village of Yavoriv, came from a renowned family that passed the craft down through generations. He worked in traditional techniques with his own artistic innovations, creating pieces with high precision and aesthetic perfection. 

Vasyl’ Hrepinyak 

Vasyl’ Hrepinyak, a representative of the third generation of inlay masters, creates furniture, frames, boxes, and trays, combining folk traditions with his own creative vision. His works are notable for their refined details, harmonious forms, and convey the character of Hutsul art. 

 Hutsul Metalwork

Metalwork is a traditional Hutsul folk art of working with copper, brass, bronze, and silver that developed in the late 18th to early 19th century, often combined with leather. Masters cast, chased, engraved, and inlaid metal to create knives, buckles, staffs, rings, seals, jewelry, and bags. Each piece in this exhibition reflects the skill and beauty of generations of Hutsul tradition. Today, few such masters remain.

Roman Strynadyuk
(1935–2010)

Roman Strynadiuk was a master metalworker who imbued metal with a lively sense of form. His works were distinguished by complex compositions, rich narratives, and finely detailed craftsmanship. He created pistols with hunting scenes, decorative belts, axes, elegant women’s necklaces, tobivka bags, and other objects that embodied the depth of folk symbolism. His artistic legacy remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for new generations of masters.

Oleh Kirashchuk 

Oleh Kirashchuk has been writing pysanky for over 30 years. A pysankar from Kolomyia, his work transcends traditional designs, drawing on classical Pokuttia patterns to create intricate compositions that even inspired a renowned French fashion house. Since 2014, he has served as a volunteer defender in eastern Ukraine and currently as a soldier in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. Despite the demands of life on the front lines, he continues to craft pysanky to raise funds for drones, demonstrating the enduring power of art even in times of war.

Toronto-based Ukrainian textile and watercolour artist Myroslava Boikiv draws deeply from her upbringing in Kovalivka, a village nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Inspired by the rich rural and traditional culture of her youth, she now navigates Toronto’s urban landscape while maintaining a profound connection to her roots. Despite the historical suppression of language, history, and culture under the Soviet system, her art remains a powerful testament to the resilience of Ukrainian identity.

With experience as an art restorer at the National Museum of Hutsulshchyna & Pokuttia Folk Art and as curator of the Pysanka Museum in Kolomyia, Myroslava has extensive expertise in preserving and promoting Ukrainian folk traditions. Her deep knowledge of Hutsul folk art, artisans, and the culture of the Carpathian Mountains contributed significantly to re-imagining the Kosiv Bazaar exhibition at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across Ukraine, Germany, Poland, and Canada, and have also entered private collections worldwide.