The Museum of Kyiv City History has opened the exhibition “Marchuk. Return” — a joint project of the museum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The exhibition was opened by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha and the museum’s Director General Viktoriia Mukha.
At the center of the exhibition is “Awakening” (“Ukraine in Bloom”), an iconic work by Ivan Marchuk created in New York in 1993. Thirty-three years after its creation, the painting has arrived in Kyiv for the first time. Alongside it, Ukrainian audiences were introduced for the first time to two more of the artist’s works — “Fantasies” and “Village and Night.” All three pieces had been kept for decades at the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York.
Thanks to the collaboration between the Museum of Kyiv City History and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ivan Marchuk’s works can now be seen in Ukraine. For the Ministry, this project is also part of broader efforts to promote Ukrainian culture worldwide, preserve national heritage, and return Ukraine’s cultural treasures home.
“Art is an integral part of diplomacy. Through it, the world comes to know Ukraine — our history, character, and culture. That is why it matters to Ukrainian diplomacy that Ukrainian art has a presence in the world’s most important cultural spaces, and that Ukraine’s voice is heard everywhere. We also have another task — to bring back what is ours. Many Ukrainian works, archives, historical treasures, and artifacts are held around the world, and they need to come home. We will keep finding them, joining forces with museums, communities, collectors, and partners, and working toward their return to Ukraine. The return of Ivan Marchuk’s ‘Awakening’ is another important step in this major effort,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha.
The Museum of Kyiv City History continues its long-running research into Ivan Marchuk’s work, and the exhibition “Marchuk. Return” marks the culmination of a major exhibition trilogy dedicated to the artist. It began with “The Cosmic Mystery of Life” in 2024, continued with the exhibition “Awakening” in 2025, and in 2026, for the artist’s 90th anniversary, the museum presented the anniversary project “I Have Stirred This World.”
“For our museum, this exhibition is the culmination of a long journey we have taken together with Ivan Marchuk and his work. A year ago, we could only dream of seeing the original ‘Awakening’ in Kyiv, and we put forward the initiative to bring it back to Ukraine — and today it is finally before Ukrainian audiences, together with ‘Fantasies’ and ‘Village and Night.’ We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and personally to Andrii Sybiha, for supporting this initiative and helping to bring it to life. It is especially symbolic that this return took place on the eve of Independence Day, since ‘Awakening’ is an image of Ukraine as Ivan Marchuk saw it — blooming, strong, and full of life,” said Viktoriia Mukha, Director General of the Museum of Kyiv City History.
The general partner of the “Marchuk. Return” exhibition is the law firm Pelekh & Partners, which has supported museum projects dedicated to Ivan Marchuk’s work for many years.
“I support Ukrainian art because I am convinced that Ukraine must reclaim its rightful place in world culture. Our artists are already part of that history — our task is to make sure the world knows their names and sees Ukraine through the strength of its culture. For me, supporting such projects means working toward that return,” said Zoriana Pelekh, project partner and founder of the law firm Pelekh & Partners.
The exhibition “Marchuk. Return” can be seen at the Museum of Kyiv City History through September 27, 2026.
Project co-organizer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
General partner of the project: law firm Pelekh & Partners.
The project was realized with the support of Tamara Strypko and collector Andrii Kratiuk.