Mykola Shmat’ko, sculptor

Ukrainian sculptor and artist from Luhansk, Shmat’ko created more than 750 monuments (bas-reliefs, high reliefs, sculptures), and more than 500 paintings. His collection is presented at “Shmat’ko and Sons” Art Gallery. There are around 70 marble sculptures and 300 paintings. Shmat’ko was chosen as the Cultural Hero of Luhansk in 2010 after a voting (organized by Tisk.org.ua and STAN) as the one who «definitely represents the image of a local cultural figure for Luhansk’s residents». Shmat’ko left Luhansk and moved to the town of Mukacheve in the Ukrainian Transcarpathia oblast in 2012, and later – to Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi in the Kyiv oblast near Kyiv. His life there he called “in a Ukrainian blockade”.. In addition to Ukraine his exhibitions took place in Italy, France and Russia. Shmat’ko won the 4th award at the Biennale in Florence. At one time Shmat’ko used to live in a basement level flat in Luhansk. «I do not need recognition or glorification in Ukraine. I only strive for art in Ukraine being developed», – said Shmat’ko in the interview for The Ukrainian Week. The sculptor’s personal webpage: http://www.kingofmarble-shmatko.com/

Photo: mikimedia, Roman Pivovarov, tisk.org.ua