Maria Siniakova and the Ukrainian Avant-garde

Maria Siniakova was a Ukrainian artist that is increasingly seen as expressing a unique feminine Ukrainian identity in her art. Active at the turn of the last century, she is credited as a founding artist of “sensual futurism.” This artistic style attempted to blend the hyper technological and mechanical style of futurism with primitive motifs […]

History of the Kyiv Metro System

Carrying well over a million passengers per day across 52 stations, Kyiv’s metro system is an integral part of the city’s daily life. While it has developed with the ever-growing city, like much of Ukraine’s public infrastructure, the metro system has struggled to keep up with the demands made of it. These demands are growing […]

National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War

On one of the great hills of Kyiv stands a colossus with sword and shield in hand. Her massive shield defends the country and her sword pierces the sky above the city. This is the Motherland Monument, a gigantic statue celebrating the Soviet victory in World War II. This statue stands taller than the Statue […]

National Opera of Ukraine

The National Opera Theater of Ukraine is a gem of Ukrainian and Russian culture that houses professional ballet and opera performances in the heart of Kyiv, and it is a perfect low-cost form of entertainment and enrichment for students. Tickets can be had for literally just a few dollars. Located at Volodymyrska St., 50, just […]

Kyiv’s People’s Friendship Arch Complex: History and Protest in a Public Space

The People’s Friendship Arch is one of Kyiv’s most iconic and controversial landmarks. The rainbow-shaped arch perches on a hill overlooking the Dnieper River and large parts of Kyiv. “Gifted” to Ukrainian SSR by the Soviet government in Moscow, it remains heavily associated with the USSR, and although it remains a tourist destination and local […]

National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine in Kyiv

Kyiv offers a plethora of parks, museums, and cafes to provide a bit of relief from the hustle and bustle of its modern, big city life. However, just a short trip away is the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine. Located on the former Pirohiv settlement, which dates back to the days […]

St. Sophia’s Cathedral – The Historic Protectress of Kyiv, Ukraine

Near the center of the city, St. Sophia’s Cathedral is maintained by the Ukrainian government as a grand and beautiful reminder of the past. Originally founded in 1011 A.D., when Kyiv was still the capital of Kievan Rus, it was an early and grand celebration of the state’s official adoption of Christianity in 988. The […]

The Open Air Museums of Baturyn, Ukraine

The Ukrainian countryside rolled by outside the van window. Sunflower fields stretched as far as the eye could see, shot through with copses of trees and punctuated with corn and wheat fields. We were on an excursion several hours to the east of Kyiv, included in our Kyiv-based study program, to see three major Ukrainian […]

Indie Zoloti Vorota in Kyiv

The backstreets of Zoloti Vorota are perhaps the most taken-for-granted locale in Kyiv. The area is most known for its bustling major streets, fed by its central location and, of course, Zoloti Vorota, once part of Kyiv’s 11th century fortifications and now a major tourist attraction. However, step into its quieter backroads, and you will […]

1 2 3