Pastel Portraits IX, 2024

Ivan Tverdun   New & remarkable Artists

Ivan Tverdun (b. 1961) is a professional Ukrainian painter and draftsman based in Lviv, Ukraine. He graduated from the Lviv College of Decorative and Applied Art named after Ivan Trush in 1980 and from the Lviv Academy of Arts in 1985. Since 1995, he has been a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.

Tverdun's artistic practice spans a wide range of styles and media. His early works reflect a strong interest in symbolism, esoteric themes, and philosophical reflection. To balance this intellectual focus, he often turned to plein air painting—a way to engage directly with nature and “clear the mind," as he describes it.

In recent years, Tverdun has concentrated on vivid, expressive landscapes and cityscapes in oil, marked by bold colour and post-impressionistic energy. At the same time, he continues to develop a parallel body of pastel works—particularly nudes and portraits—demonstrating his strong command of line and emotional nuance. Across all genres, his work reveals a deep sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and human presence.

Recognised for his distinctive style and emotional immediacy, Ivan Tverdun is considered an established figure within the Ukrainian contemporary art scene. His works are held in private collections across Ukraine, Europe, and beyond, and he is represented by several galleries in Ukraine and Poland. He has participated in numerous exhibitions both nationally and internationally, including in the United States, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and Germany.

Selected Exhibitions

2023 - Lebensfreude – Freiheit von Angst (“Joy of Life – Freedom from Fear"), solo exhibition, Waldmüllerzentrum, Vienna, Austria

2018 - Verschleierte Träume (“Veiled Dreams"), solo exhibition, Waldmüllerzentrum, Vienna, Austria

2016 - Impressionen eines ukrainischen Künstlers (“Impressions of a Ukrainian Artist"), solo exhibition, Waldmüllerzentrum, Vienna, Austria

2006 - Solo exhibition, National Museum named after A. Sheptytsky, Lviv, Ukraine

2002 - Symbols of Light, solo exhibition, Dzyga Art Center, Lviv, Ukraine

2000 - Solo exhibition, Alla Rogers Gallery, Washington D.C., USA

2000 - Group exhibition, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, USA

1998 - Solo exhibition, Gallery 36, Kyiv, Ukraine

1998 - Europ'ART, Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland

1988 - Third Prize, International Triennial of Painting “Silver Square", Przemyśl, Poland

1995 - Group exhibition, OR Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine

1992 - Solo exhibition, Museum of Ethnography, Lviv, Ukraine

1990 - Solo exhibition, Bank premises, Dillingen, Germany