Artisans of Ukraine may sound new to some but the operations behind the name have been in place for decades.
What started out as an individual’s passion to pursue the depths of Ukrainian art and culture has now blossomed into a new venture where one can find unique, handmade curated pieces made by talented artists in Ukraine. We are a mother-daughter duo based out of the Philadelphia area. My mother is a Traditional Master Artist in the art of Gerdany (traditional Ukrainian beadwork). While working as an apprentice, thanks to a grant from The Pennsylvania Council of the Arts she found that there were limited resources related to this art in the United States. She decided to travel to Ukraine in order to expand her knowledge. It was during her many years of travel that she developed lifelong relationships with artists all across Ukraine. Not only did she meet artists that specialized in Gerdany, she discovered artists of various ages and regions that created art which encompassed traditional art forms with contemporary variants. Being truly inspired, she dedicated herself to trying to help these artists by bringing their work to the United States.
I have always been captivated by my mother’s dedication and eye for pure artistic talent. After graduating college, my mother gifted me a trip to Ukraine. It was there where I was able to fully comprehend the love she felt for the country, its people and culture. My mother took me to historical sites, museums, schools and villages where we met the artists and were able to see firsthand their creations. These wonderful artists welcomed us into their homes and studios and we had the opportunity to witness their talents in action.
My mother originally started selling the artwork as a way to give back to the artists and to expose their unique work to the people of the United States. The artwork, seemingly speaking for itself and gaining much demand, prompted us to attend festivals traveling up and down the east coast. For years, customers have approached us to create an online presence to help them begin or grow their unique collection of Ukrainian art. Artisans of Ukraine has been created to enable our customers to access the vast talents and creations of Ukrainian artists. Our promise to you is that every item that you collect from this site is unique, and handcrafted with talent and love. We thank you for your support.