Wasyl Kacurovsky

Born in North Dakota to a Ukrainian family, Wasyl Kacurovsky finished his education in Prague, graduating with a degree in economics. He moved to Chicago in 1953 where he worked for the Federal Reserve Bank until his retirement in 1968.

Interested in art and photography since his time in school, Kacurovsky dove back into those interests after his retirement, becoming the first curator of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in 1972, and Curator Emeritus in 1985. In UIMA’s first press release, written by Kacurovsky on 5 November 1971, he echoed themes articulated in Vasah–UIMA's mandate to educate the Ukrainian community in Chicago and at large in contemporary artistic developments and the art of Ukrainian modernists; supporting next generations of artists through exhibition opportunities, and playing a role in cultivating greater understanding and tolerance for modern art and its multiple perspectives. 

A self-taught artist, Kacurovsky worked primarily in oil paint and mixed-media, incorporating various textural and color combinations. He traveled extensively, learning about modern art, film, poetry, and Eastern philosophy--all of which influenced his artistic sensibilities. Kacurovsky was heavily invested in the Chicago Art scene, and particularly interested in constructivism, both of which contributed to UIMA’s aesthetic development.