William Kurelek in his studio. 1970s-1980s (?). The Central State Archive of Public Associations and Ukrainians
НAs I came near, I could hear men singing. They were singing “Boh Predvichnyj,” a Ukrainian Christmas carol, and I fell again. The tears began and streamed down my face, I was singing the words in my mind. The tears froze on my cheeks and chin
William Kurelek
William Kurelek was an internationally recognized Canadian artist of Ukrainian origin whose works are part of the collections of the National Gallery of Canada. Kurelek’s work reflects his Ukrainian-Canadian heritage, life experience in immigrant settlements, and fascination with religious themes.
Born on March 3, 1927, near Whitford, Alberta, Canada, to first and second-wave immigrant parents from Borivtsi in Bukovyna, William, the eldest of seven children, spent his childhood on the family farm in Manitoba. In 1943, he moved to Winnipeg, where he pursued his secondary education and attended Ukrainian cultural classes at St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Сhurch under the guidance of Father Petro Mayevsky, who fueled William’s interest in Ukrainian culture, history, and painting. Kurelek continued his studies at the University of Manitoba, the Ontario College of Art (OCA), and the University of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
In the spring of 1952, Kurelek arrived in the United Kingdom, where he underwent treatment for a mental illness at the Maudsley Hospital in London and later at a hospital in Surrey. In February 1957, he officially converted to the Roman Catholic Church. In the summer of 1958, William embarked on a journey through Europe and the Middle East, including visits to Jordan and Israel. Upon his return, he collaborated with the Isaacs Gallery. Over the next decade, the artist held exhibitions at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (1966), the University of Toronto (1969), galleries in Edmonton (1970) and Burnaby (1973), and illustrated books, including Ivan Franko’s “Lys Mykyta” (Mykyta the Fox).
In the spring of 1970, Kurelek visited Ukraine for the first time. Despite the scrutiny of Soviet authorities, he managed to visit Borivtsi. Upon returning to Canada, he applied for a visa that would allow him to stay in his native village for six weeks. The trip took place in 1977, during which Kurelek created six paintings and about 100 sketches inspired by his homeland. Among the essential works depicting the Ukrainian migration is the composition “The Ukrainian Pioneer” (1971), narrating the story through six separate scene panels. The Canadian government acquired the painting, which was exhibited in the House of Commons of Canada in 1983. In 1976, the Niagara Falls Art Gallery established the William Kurelek Gallery, which later became one of the most comprehensive collections of the artists’ works.
Kurelek’s didactic art is filled with apocalypticism. His work often explored religious themes, family identity, and everyday life in immigrant settlements and Ukraine. His experiments with composition, meticulous attention to detail, and a particular focus on color distinguished his painting style.
