NYC museum presents major exhibition on Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The poet and artist known as the father of the Ukrainian nation is the subject of a major exhibition in New York City.

Taras Shevchenko (tah-RAHS’ shehv-CHEHNK’-oh) was born 200 years ago.

The Ukrainian Museum is marking the anniversary through Nov. 2.

The exhibition includes 150 original watercolours and drawings on loan from the National Museum of Taras Shevchenko in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The opening was delayed 3 months until June 29 because of Ukraine’s current political crisis.

Highlights include one of Shevchenko’s first poetry collections, a rare 1840 edition of “Kobzar.”

Born a serf, Shevchenko spent 10 years in czarist labour camps for his patriotic poetry and association with a society of Ukrainian intellectuals.

He was acquainted with such luminaries as Nikolai Gogol and the Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge.

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