Oil painting View of the village Bozhiy Mikhail Mikhailovich

№Vern 731

Mikhail Mikhailovich Bozhiy (1911–1990) is a world-famous Ukrainian realist artist whose works have been presented at leading international auctions and are admired by collectors for their portraiture, genre scenes, and expressive depiction of Soviet life. Known as a master of realism and portraiture, Bozhiy’s legacy occupies a significant place in the history of Ukrainian fine art.

Bozhiy’s paintings are distinguished by their clarity of form, emotional depth, and a strong sense of humanity. Whether portraying students, workers, nurses, or historical figures, his portraits strive to reveal the inner life of his subjects, blending social purpose with artistic sensitivity. In addition to portraits, he created large-scale works, still lifes, and genre compositions, all rendered with technical skill and poetic realism.

Born on September 20, 1911, in Mykolaiv, Bozhiy studied at the Mykolaiv Art Technical School from 1930 to 1933. He began exhibiting in 1937, and in 1936 relocated to Odesa, where he worked in various artistic capacities, including cinema studio animation, poster art, and children’s cinema. During World War II, due to health limitations, he did not serve at the front but created posters and satirical drawings. After the liberation of Odesa in 1944, he resumed intensive creative activity. His portraits “Excellent Student Svetlana Shipunova” (1950) and “Nurse” (1955) brought him widespread recognition; the latter won him a bronze medal at the 1957 World Exhibition in Brussels.

Bozhiy was honored with the titles Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1957), People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1960), and People’s Artist of the USSR (1963). From 1962, he became a member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR. He was also awarded the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR in 1974. He passed away on January 1, 1990, in Odesa.

His works are held in key Ukrainian museums such as the Odesa Art Museum, Museum of Ukrainian Fine Arts in Kyiv, and in private collections in Ukraine and abroad. Regularly presented at international auction houses, Bozhiy’s paintings remain in demand for their artistic excellence, cultural resonance, and the profound realism that bridges public history and private portrait.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "View of the village"
* ARTISTS: Bozhiy Mikhail Mikhailovich
* SIZE: 28x38 cm/'11.02x14.96 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection

* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product