Wodeman

Wodeman is a contemporary Ukrainian artist, philosopher, and civil activist. He has been involved in the arts since the late 1990s, motivated by a passion for artistic expression rather than a desire for a traditional career. In the 2000s, he co-organized several significant exhibitions that showcased Ukrainian contemporary art to a global audience. Notable exhibitions include ‘Verkreuzungen,’ which took place at the National Arts Museum in Vienna from June to September 2001, and the International Festival of Modern Art in Magdeburg, which ran from 2004 to 2005. Primarily working in painting, digital media, and mixed media, Wodeman explores color harmonies, as well as the symbolism of objects, forms, phenomena, and ideas, and their interconnections. In 2024, Wodeman began a new chapter in his life as a professional artist with his solo exhibition titled "In Search of the Unknown Hero," held at the Museum of Ideas in Lviv. This museum is one of the first galleries and non-profit institutions established in independent Ukraine, founded in 1992. Recently, his artwork was selected for the group exhibition "Resilience Formula," organized and curated by the Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. Currently on display in Kyiv, this exhibition features a collection of renowned Ukrainian artists alongside emerging talents. In 2024, Wodeman also participated in two group exhibitions. His "Faces of Silence" series was featured in "Transcendence - Artists of Ukraine," held at the an.ä.log.sf gallery in San Francisco from December 6 to 21. Additionally, his "Meditations From the Road" series was showcased in "Sugar-Free," which ran from December 12 to January 12 at the MRIYA gallery in Tribeca, New York. Having studied and collaborated privately with some of the best artists, Wodeman has engaged in numerous research projects and creative experiments over the past two decades. He is considering making some of this work public at an appropriate time in the future. Born in 1975 in a small town located in the forest-rich northern region of Ukraine, Wodeman (whose surname literally means 'wooden' in Ukrainian) has been a permanent resident of Kyiv since 1992, except when he travels the world or retreats to his beloved countryside.