Main image: Sergiy Kyrychenko (Facebook)
The seventeenth interview through images by Andrew Sheptunov
Sergiy Kyrychenko is an artist whose body of work can boldly be called a vivid embodiment of the Odessa character. A graduate of the legendary "Grekovka" (Grekov Odessa Art College), he has continued and developed the finest traditions of the South Ukrainian school of painting, transforming them into his own distinct and recognizable artistic language.
His works resonate with that signature southern generosity: if there is color, it is ringing and saturated; if there is emotion, it is sincere and open.
The artist’s civic stance deserves special attention. Sergiy is not the type of creator to lock himself in an "ivory tower" while history is being made on the streets. During critical moments for the country, he was in the thick of things: he directly participated in the Revolution of Dignity on the Maidan.
This thirst for freedom, patriotism, and uncompromising nature regarding honor find an echo in his art—in the boldness of his artistic decisions and the inner strength of his imagery.
For Kyrychenko, Odessa is not merely a biographical location, but a primary co-author. The influence of this sun-drenched region can be traced in the specific glow of his canvases and his work with the palette. His paintings are often compared to vitamins: they are charged with vital energy, a lust for life, and a romantic perception of the world, where a celebration hides even within a mundane still life.
However, the master’s main "calling card" is his unique experimentation with texture, known as "fabric collagism." Sergiy does not limit himself to the flat plane of the canvas; he works like a sculptor of painting, fusing fabric, drapery, and lace into the paint layers. This turns his paintings into complex, almost relief-like objects that the viewer instinctively wants to touch to feel their materiality.
His creative path is a constant movement from realism to complex associative imagery. Whether it be sophisticated female figures or philosophical abstractions, Kyrychenko always remains faithful to the search for Harmony. Today, his works are held in museums and private collections around the world, yet he continues to experiment, proving that a true artist never stops evolving.
That is precisely why we decided to abandon the traditional text interview format. After all, where words might be imprecise, the artist's brush strikes the very target. We asked Sergiy Kyrychenko 12 questions about life, creativity, and feelings, and he answered them in the only true way possible—with his paintings. We invite you to "read" these answers.
1. Which of your works best represents you as an artist at this stage of your life?
2. In which painting did texture and the relief of fabric play, in your opinion, the most important role?
3. Which canvas would you call your brightest and boldest color decision?
4. Which image became the embodiment of ideal female beauty and harmony for you?
5. Which work would you "prescribe" to a viewer as the best cure for greyness and depression?
6. In which work is the line between reality and fantasy the thinnest?
7. Which landscape is a true "Place of Power" for you?
8. Which painting demanded the most time or inner strength from you?
9. In which work did you allow yourself the most daring experiment with form?
10. Which of your paintings literally radiates the warmth and heat of the Odessa sun?
11. In which painting is the greatest riddle hidden for the viewer?
12. Which of your works is your "internal self-portrait" right now?
This "visual dialogue" reveals Sergiy Kyrychenko more fully than any critical articles could. In his answers, we see an honest cross-section of the artist's time and soul: here, the life-affirming "Shanghai Rose" sits alongside the painful reflection of "Bucha"; the ironic "Blind Man's Bluff" contrasts with the severe "Fifth Day of War."
Kyrychenko remains true to himself—he does not hide from reality but passes it through his heart and canvas, transforming even the most difficult experiences into art.
His works are a living organism where the Odessa sun, complex fabric textures, and the exposed nerve of the present day intertwine. Each painting is an invitation to a conversation that requires no translation, but demands attention and empathy.
Of course, a photograph on a screen only partially conveys the magic of his "fabric collagism." To truly appreciate the volume, the play of light on the draperies, and the powerful energy of these canvases, one must observe the master's work in dynamic reality.
We invite you to continue your acquaintance with the world of Sergiy Kyrychenko. Follow his pages on social media to be the first to see new experiments, track exhibition announcements, and recharge with art that, despite everything, continues to bring light.
Artist's Social Media: Facebook
