Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

feature
Ukrainian Art
Svitlana Shiells was born in
Ukraine, where she received
a PhD in art history. She has
taught at universities in Ukraine,
America, and Austria and has
presented her research focused
on Central and East European
modern art at numerous venues
across the globe including
Vienna’s Albertina and Leopold
Museums. In Vienna, where she
currently lives, she is an
independent scholar and a
member of AWA Vienna where
she also teaches yoga.
Svitlana Shiells in front of Taras Shevchenko statue,
Washington, DC
As an art historian, I have deep respect for
all cultures and religions. Growing up in
Ukraine, I was always extremely proud
to be a Ukrainian. When I visited the USA at the
end of 1990s as a graduate student, I was truly
shocked that Americans who inquired about
my origin responded to my reply “I am from
Ukraine” with “Aha, from Russia.” It was painful,
because my self-identity was based on my
knowledge of Ukrainian history, millennia-long
culture and art. When I started to teach at
American universities in the 2000s, I was the first
to offer an academic course in the West entitled
“History of Ukrainian and Russian Art” instead
of the traditional “Russian Art.” My frustration
Kazimir
increased because in practically all textbooks on
Malevich – Man
Russian history, Ukraine was never mentioned.
in a Suprematist
Landscape
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