Rakhmanin Evgeniy - Ukrainian artist

Rakhmanin Evgeniy (also - Rakhmanin Yevhen; born July 17, 1947, Voshchatyn village, Volyn region) is a prominent Ukrainian painter and a pivotal figure in the Odesa nonconformist art movement, recognized as an Honored Artist of Ukraine in 2010. His artistic journey began in Odesa, where he moved in 1965. In 1970, Yevhen Rakhmanin graduated with honors from the fine arts and graphics faculty of Odesa State Pedagogical University named after Kostiantyn Ushynsky, where he was mentored by the renowned educator Valeriy Hehamian.

The Artist's Development and the Nonconformist Movement

Yevhen Rakhmanin's creative career started in 1970, with his exhibition activity commencing in 1976. From 1975 to 1979, he actively participated in a series of unofficial "apartment exhibitions" in Odesa, which served as a unique response to the censorship prevalent at the time. In 1977, Rakhmanin took part in the famous unofficial "street exhibition," commemorating the 10th anniversary of the legendary "fence exhibition" "Sychyk + Khrushchyk."

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the artist worked in easel and monumental painting, constantly experimenting with forms and techniques. From the late 1980s onward, Yevhen Rakhmanin became an active participant in contemporary art exhibitions both within Ukraine and abroad, firmly establishing his place at the forefront of the artistic process.

Recognition and Legacy

In 1993, Yevhen Rakhmanin was admitted to the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, an official recognition of his contributions. In 2010, he was awarded the honorary title of "Honored Artist of Ukraine." Yevhen Ivanovych continues to live and actively work in Odesa.

The artist's works are represented in leading museum collections across Ukraine, including the Odesa Art Museum, the Odesa Literary Museum, and the Sumy and Khmelnytskyi Art Museums. Numerous works by Yevhen Rakhmanin are also held in private collections in Ukraine, Japan, Denmark, and Germany.

Selected Exhibitions

Yevhen Rakhmanin's art has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions.

Solo Exhibitions:

• 2006: Oleksandrivsky Park Gallery, Odesa.
• 2004: Soviart Center for Contemporary Art, Kyiv.
• 1999: Exhibition Hall of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Odesa; White Moon Gallery, Odesa.
• 1998, 1997: House with an Angel Gallery of the Charitable Center, Odesa.
• 1995: Artis Gallery, Odesa.
• 1993: Art Museum, Odesa.
• 1977: "Fence Exhibition" (jointly with V. Risovich) in memory of the 1967 "Sychyk + Khrushchyk" "fence exhibition."

Selected Group Exhibitions:

• 2013: "Odesa Non-Figurative - 3," Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art, Odesa; "Graphics... Graphics... Graphics... Yevhen Rakhmanin, Mykola Novikov, Viacheslav Horbunov," Museum of Modern Art Odesa; "Odesa School. Traditions and Relevance," Mystetsky Arsenal, Kyiv, and Art-Donbas, Donetsk; "Apartment Exhibitions" series within the IV Fine Art Ukraine project.
• 2012: "Music of the World," NT-Art Gallery, Odesa.
• 2008: "How Young You Were..." Odesa Nonconformist Artists. 1960s-1980s in the collections of Felix Kokhrikht and Anatoliy Dymchuk, NT-Art Gallery, Odesa.
• 2003: "Odesa Artists in M. Knobel's Collection," National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv.
• 2000: "Positive Reaction," Museum of Western and Eastern Art, Odesa.
• 1996: Exhibitions of Creative Associations "Art-Club-96," "Choven" (Khmelnytskyi); "Odesa Artists – To the World Congress of Ukrainian Medical Societies," Odesa.
• 1991: International Biennale "Impreza" (honorary diploma), Ivano-Frankivsk.
• 1990-1991: "Ukrainian Artists from Odesa" (Lviv, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil).
• 1990: "Glory and Modernity of Odesa," Municipal Gallery, Yokohama, Japan; "Contemporary Painting of Odesa," "Contemporary Painting of Ukraine and Russia," Red Square Gallery, Odesa; "Ukrainian MalARTstvo," Odense, Denmark, and Soviart Center for Contemporary Art, Kyiv.
• 1988: Exhibition of 4 Odesa Artists (O. Voloshynov, Yu. Kovalenko, I. Ostrovskyi, Ye. Rakhmanin), Art Museum, Odesa.
• 1987: "New Chamber Art," Kuznetsky Most Gallery, Moscow.
• 1975-1979: Series of "apartment" and "unofficial exhibitions," Odesa.

Rakhmanin Evgeniy is not just an artist; he represents an entire era in Ukrainian art, whose work continues to inspire and resonate with art connoisseurs worldwide.