Maria Prymachenko. Through her magical, colourful naïve paintings, she amazed the art world and brought Ukrainian folklore to international stages. Her works, full of magical creatures and fantastical landscapes, were shown in dozens of exhibitions worldwide during her lifetime and continue to inspire audiences today.

She was born on January 12, 1909, in the village of Bolotnia, in the Kyiv region. As a child, Maria survived polio, which left her disabled and walking with crutches for her entire life. Despite this, she developed a love for drawing and an extraordinary artistic talent.

Maria’s first works were painted on the walls of her own home. She discovered bright blue clay on the ground, while watching a strange bird as she tended geese, and used it to create vivid flowers on her walls. Soon, she began painting fantastic animals and flowers, and neighbours invited her to decorate their homes. People came from nearby villages just to see her paintings.

Over her lifetime, Maria Prymachenko created more than 800 works. Many of them are now preserved in some of the world’s most important galleries, and her style has influenced numerous artists and designers. 

And today, Prymachenko’s magical, colourful works continue to captivate people around the world.