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'Twelve Birds and Other Endangered Creatures' Exhibition Brings Yakov Hnizdovsky’s Legacy to Kyiv
![(Source: Sens) (Source: Sens)](https://storage.united24media.com/thumbs/720x/d/8c/a3e8d83cc81f39974c357bba9adcd8cd.jpg)
The Kyiv bookstore Sens has opened an exhibition dedicated to Ukrainian-American graphic artist Yakov Hnizdovsky (1915–1985), titled Twelve Birds and Other Endangered Creatures.
Hnizdovsky’s intricate woodcuts and prints reflected his deep connection to Ukraine. Forced into exile by Soviet repression, he studied in Warsaw and Zagreb before settling in the US in 1949.
The exhibition showcases approximately nine dozen of his graphic works, exploring themes of birds, animals, plants, and people, as well as ideas of disappearance, search, and discovery.
The collection includes early graphics from the 1940s and 50s and iconic images from the 1970s–80s, offering insight into the motifs and concepts that shaped his distinct style.
![Обтятий / Cut Down (1978) (Image Source: Auctria) Обтятий / Cut Down (1978) (Image Source: Auctria)](https://storage.united24media.com/thumbs/720x/4/4a/b5f3eb103c18803f04010d7c8c5174a4.jpg)
Known for his stylized depictions of nature, his work blended Ukrainian folk art with influences from Dürer, Japanese prints, and Chinese brush painting.
Despite displacement, Hnizdovsky’s art remained deeply rooted in his Ukrainian heritage, earning global recognition and cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated printmakers of his time.
![Замок у Небі / Castle in the Sky (1967) (Image Source: Auctria) Замок у Небі / Castle in the Sky (1967) (Image Source: Auctria)](https://storage.united24media.com/thumbs/720x/d/da/91125a92e1eee2eed7b5ab0a96623dad.jpg)
Visitors will also learn about the woodcut technique, which played a central role in his artistic approach. The exhibition is further supplemented with biographical details and rarely seen family photographs.
![Вкорінена Гілка / Rooted Branch (1971) (Image Source: Auctria) Вкорінена Гілка / Rooted Branch (1971) (Image Source: Auctria)](https://storage.united24media.com/thumbs/720x/1/f7/4ee5b10d8ef7ef9da429d6528a785f71.jpg)
An online auction will run alongside the exhibition, with 29 works available for purchase on the Auctria platform. Proceeds will go toward purchasing specialized transport for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate.
The exhibition runs until March 3, 2025, Sens Bookstore, 34 Khreshchatyk Street, Kyiv, Ukraine.
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