Ukrainians Wish They Knew Panchenko Better; The Artist Died in Bucha

Ukrainians and the art world are learning about nationalist artist Lyubov Panchenko — but only after she died in Bucha.

The power was out in the museum when Newsy visited a body of work that had just come to light. 

The name of the artist only became known to the art world after the name of her town became known to the entire world. Lyubov Panchenko was from Bucha. She donated works to a Kyiv museum just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, inflicting upon her town some of this war's worst atrocities. These delicate, intricate felt pieces are now recognized as cultural treasures of a once-underground art movement that survived. The artist did not.  

Halyna Pochveruk is the curator of The Ukrainian Sixtiers Dissident Museum.