Vasyl Yermylov

The Yermylov Bold typeface, launched in 2018 for the Ukraine NOW branding initiative, draws its aesthetic from the constructivist graphic compositions of Vasyl Dmytrovych Yermylov. A foundational figure in the Ukrainian avant-garde, Yermylov navigated the shifting political landscapes of the early twentieth century while maintaining a rigorous focus on decorative painting, industrial design, and interior architecture.

Early Education and Influences

Born in Kharkiv in 1894, Yermylov began his formal artistic training in 1910 at the School for Applied Art. During this period, he studied under Eduard Steinberg, focusing on fresco and mosaic techniques. He later traveled to Moscow in 1912 to attend the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he established professional contacts with David Burliuk and Vladimir Mayakovsky. His technical training continued in 1913 under the instruction of Ilya Mashkov and Pyotr Konchalovsky before he returned to his home city.

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Constructivism and Institutional Roles

Upon returning to Kharkiv, Yermylov integrated himself into local artistic groups such as Budiak and the League of Seven. In 1919, he founded the Industrial Teacher Workshop. By 1920, his work shifted toward state-sponsored agitprop as he assumed leadership of the Ukrainian Telegraph Agency for Propaganda Purpose. His involvement in the constructivist movement deepened through his membership in the Association of Revolutionary Art of Ukraine and his co-founding of the Technical Art Institute in 1922.

International Recognition and Teaching

Yermylov gained international exposure in 1928 by contributing to the Pressa exhibition in Cologne, working alongside El Lissitzky and Vadym Meller. Throughout the late 1920s, he served as artistic director for the magazine Avantgarde, producing book covers and illustrations. Later in his career, he focused on teaching, holding positions at the National Art Institute in Kharkiv from 1944 to 1947 and again between 1963 and 1967.

Architectural Design and Legacy

His influence extended beyond two-dimensional media into large-scale interior projects, including the Pioneers Palace in Kharkiv and the Defence Building in Kyiv. Yermylov died in 1968 and was buried at the Second City Cemetery in Kharkiv. His institutional legacy remains through the Yermilov Centre, a contemporary art space established in his home city in 2012.