Folk Art by Maria Primachenko
We love the fluorescent colors and graphic shapes in the work of Maria Primachenko! Once you get looking at her work, it’s impossible to look away. Primachenko was born in Bolotnya, a small village in Ukraine, in 1908 and started making art as a young girl. She was inspired by a field of flowers growing near a beach, so she drew them and other imaginary flowers into the sand. After that, she started using natural pigments and then later gouche, to make her incredible paintings. Her earlier works use a muted color palette and show more realistic scenes, while her later paintings are more playful and full of color. We’ve picked out a few of our favorites below!
I Give My Little Stars To Children (1983)
Maria Primachenko did not receive a formal art education but relied on her natural talent. Her work is often categorized as naive art because of the simplistic techniques and shapes she used.
Another Beast Has Run Into Flowers (1983)
Primachenko suffered from polio as a child and after her recovery her family said that she became a very kind and thoughtful person, and appreciated plants, animals, and all living things more than ever before.
October Flowers (1968)
Many of her works were inspired by dreams that she then was able to capture on paper.
A Dove Has Spread Her Wings And Asks For Peace (1982)
Folk stories, legends, and fairy tales were big sources of inspiration for Primachenko’s paintings.
The Little Elephant Who Wanted To Be A Sailor (1973)
Many of Primachenko’s compositions often focused on the relationship between good and evil.
Red Snowball Tree Blooms Over A Well (1982)
Another quality of naive art is a lack of depth or perspective, as shown in the painting above.
May I Give This Ukrainian Bread To All People In This Big Wide World (1982)
The title of this painting is a perfect example of Primachenko’s generous nature and love for all living things.
This Beast Went A Catching Sparrows (1983)
Another example of a piece of Primachenko’s work that was inspired by Ukrainian folk stories and fairy tales.
Two Blue Tomties – Two Sisters Walk On The Grass (1982)
Picasso said “I bow down before the artistic miracle of this brilliant Ukrainian” after viewing one of Primachenko’s art exhibitions.
