Collection History

Today the UIMA is home to one of the world’s largest collections of Ukrainian-American abstract and minimalist works from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The UIMA collection is increasingly being recognized for its breadth and quality. Many of the artists represented have world-class reputations; their works can also be found such places as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, and the Barnes Collection.

From its onset, the permanent collection served as an ongoing educational resource, providing the public with examples of work being produced by nationally and internationally recognized contemporary artists. A unique aspect of its formation was the Institute’s policy of requesting exhibiting artists to donate one work to the permanent collection. This supplemented gallery acquisitions and donations by collectors. Although not every artist chose to contribute, in many ways, the permanent collection documents the Institute’s exhibition program. The collection is diverse, comprised of a variety of styles primarily from the latter half of the twentieth century, including Minimalism, Conceptualism and Computer Art. It also features numerous media, such as sculpture, painting, prints, photography, fiber and ceramics.

Please direct all inquiries regarding the permanent collection to Adrienne Kochman (adrienne@uima-chicago.org).

Below is selection of some of the artists in our collection—stay tuned as we continue to add more.

  • Untitled

    Michel Andreenko (b. 1894, d. 1982)

    1972

    Lithograph n.d.

    Artist proof

    20 x 25 in

    Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Holowaty


  • Recontré

    Alexander Archipenko (b. 1887, d. 1964)

    1963

    Lithograph on paper

    25.75 x 19.5 in.

    Gift of Mr. Bohdan Kowalsky, 2008


  • Small Window at Night

    Patrick Caulfield (b. 1936, d. 2005)

    Screenprint on paper

    39.5 x 29.75 in.

    Gift of Dr. Pellayo and Mrs.

    Caroline Cabrera


  • En descendant d’Eyoub

    Alexander Gritchenko (b. 1883, d. 1977)

    Lithograph on paper

    18 x 13 in 

    Institute purchase

  • “CTRL-Home/Echo” from Moon Light / Mooring CTRL-4

    Michiko Itatani (b. 1948)
    2010
    Oil on canvas
    51 x 42 in.
    Anonymous donation

  • Volodymyr Vestment 

    Alexandra Diachenko-Kochman (b. 1936)

    1988

    Handcrafted ceramic tiles and

    64 x 61.5 x 11 in.

    On loan from the artist


  • Relief Structure

    Ronald Kostyniuk (b. 1941)

    ca. 1972

    Enamel on plastic

    64 x 64 x 12.25 in.

    Gift of Dr. Achilles and Mrs. Vera

    Chreptowsky


  • Untitled

    Lialia Kuchma (b. 1943)

    Tapestry 

    46 x 46 in

    Purchased with a grant from the Illinois Arts Council


  • Fantastique Passage

    Volodymyr Makarenko (b. 1943)

    1981

    Oil on canvas

    63.5 x 45 in

    Gift of the artist

  • Praying Woman (sketch for painting)

    Vadym Meller (b. 1884, d. 1962)


    1912-1914

    pencil on paper

    5 x 5 in.

    Gift of Mrs. Nina Vetrova

    Robinson, 2013


  • Window

    Arkadia Olenska-Petryshyn (b. 1934, d. 199)

    1979

    Lithograph on paper

    29.5 x 21.5 in.

    Gift of the artist


  • Untitled (Blue)

    Jules Olitski (b. 1922, d. 2007)

    1970

    Screenprint on paper

    26 x 35 in

    Gift of Dr. Pellayo and Mrs. Caroline Cabrera 


  • Untitled (Tears) 

    Jurij Solovij (b. 1921, d. 2007)

    Crayon on paper

    8.5 x 11 in.

    Gift of Mr. Bohdan Kowalsky, 2008


  • Navigational Guide 

    Mychajlo Urban (b. 1928)

    1972

    Steel 

    96 x 32 x 16 in

    Gift of Mr. Ted and Mrs. Gail Struve, 2004