Over 750 monuments and 500 paintings constitute the diverse artistic output of Mykola Shmatko, a creator who transitioned into the fine arts after spending his early career as a firefighter. Born in 1943 in Krasnohorivka, he developed a substantial body of work in marble, plaster, and paint that spanned several decades of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Artistic Development and Technique
Shmatko began his career as a sculptor at the age of 33. His primary medium was marble, sourced from both Ural and Italian quarries. His private gallery featured an extensive collection, including approximately 100 sculptures and 30 plaster casts. The range of his portfolio was broad, encompassing simple decorative items alongside complex bas-reliefs and high-relief busts. Beyond traditional figurative sculpture, his practice integrated architectural design, including a proposal for a high-rise structure shaped like a penis. His output was noted for its thematic variety, which extended into sexually explicit and pornographic imagery.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Notable Commissions and Recognition
In 2004, the Kyiv Metropolitan, Volodymyr Sabodan, awarded Shmatko the Order of St. Nestor the Chronicler, 3rd class. This distinction recognized his creation of the 'Sviatohorska Blessed Virgin,' a statue of the Theotokos commissioned for the Sviato-Uspenskyi Sviatohorskyi Monastery. Further religious commissions included 'The Crucifixion,' a marble piece crafted specifically for the Transfiguration church in the village of Keleberda, located in the Poltava region, which opened in 2005.
Exhibitions and Relocation
Shmatko participated in several international exhibitions, including the Biennale di Firenze in 2007 and 2009, where he received a fourth-place award in sculpture and installation during the former event. He also participated in ArtMonaco 2012. Throughout his life, his work entered public collections, such as the bust of Ivan Maksymovych Soshenko held at the museum of the Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. In 2012, at the invitation of Viktor Baloha, Shmatko moved his studio and family to Mukachevo, where he remained until his death in 2020 at the age of 77.
Fast facts
- Born: 1943, Krasnohorivka
- Died: 2020, Mukachevo
- Occupations: Painter, sculptor, former firefighter
- Primary medium: Ural and Italian marble
- Awards: Order of St. Nestor the Chronicler 3rd class
- Total pieces: Approximately 750 monuments and 500 pictures
- Citizenship: Ukraine and Soviet Union
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Mykola Shmatko focus on in his art?
He produced diverse works ranging from religious iconography and historical busts to architectural designs and sexually explicit imagery.
Where can Shmatko's work be found?
His work is located in various private collections and specific religious sites, such as the Transfiguration church in Keleberda, with select pieces held in institutions like the Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko Imperial Academy of Arts.
Achievements
- Order of St. Nestor the Chronicler 3rd class
