Roitburd Alexander - conceptual artist. Representative of the New Ukrainian Wave

Alexander Roitburd: Visionary of Ukrainian Contemporary Art and Museum Reformer

Alexander Roitburd (1961-2021) — a pivotal figure in Ukraine's cultural landscape, an artist, curator, public activist, and director of the Odesa Fine Arts Museum. His legacy continues to inspire and provoke discussion. His bold and intellectual work served as a bridge between Ukrainian art and the global context, and his life was dedicated to advocating for cultural development.

A Journey into Art: The Making of a Postmodern Master

The future leader of the "New Ukrainian Wave" was born in Odesa on October 14, 1961. Unlike most artists, his family wasn't involved in the art world, and his father initially envisioned Oleksandr as an architect. However, a youthful passion for creative experimentation shaped his destiny. In 1983, Roitburd successfully graduated from the Art and Graphics Department of the Odesa Pedagogical Institute named after Kostiantyn Ushynsky, where Valerii Hehamian was his mentor.

The dawn of Perestroika opened new horizons for the young artist. He actively absorbed ideas from foreign masters and postmodernists, forging his own unique style and way of thinking. A turning point came with the 1987 Republican Youth Exhibition, where Roitburd presented his postmodern model of art, challenging traditional hierarchies of values. From that moment on, his works gained a recognizable provocativeness and scandalous nature, which later made him one of the country's most discussed artists.

Creative Works: Deconstruction, Irony, and Symbolism

Throughout most of his career, Alexander Roitburd actively engaged in deconstructing symbols and images from classical and contemporary culture. In the best traditions of postmodernism, his canvases were populated by transformed political figures, human forms, and fantastic creatures. He didn't shy away from self-portraits either, using them to demonstrate the consistency of his views and his willingness for self-irony.

Roitburd masterfully manipulated classical art subjects, quoted masterpieces, and developed his own ironic line, touching upon themes of values from various religions and moral systems. His paintings, often eliciting mixed emotions, combined beauty with ugliness to ridicule the confusion and paradoxes of modern life.

Among the artist's most famous and resonant works:

Sold at a Phillips auction for a substantial sum, this painting was created after the theft of a Caravaggio canvas from the Odesa Museum. It became a striking example of the artist's reaction to cultural and social events.	Created during his student years (1981), this work demonstrates Roitburd's early interest in the avant-garde and his active search for his own style.
Unlike many of his other works, this portrait of the philosopher, surrounded by swans, contains no irony, but rather reflects idealistic notions of harmony between man and nature.	This provocative work featuring a semi-nude leader in shorts symbolized the deconstruction of Soviet ideology and dictatorship.

Roitburd's works are highly valued in Europe and the USA, confirmed by numerous auction sales – their number reaching around 40, a record among Ukrainian artists. His pieces are held in the collections of leading world museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Duke University Museum of Art in Durham (USA), the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv, and the Odesa Fine Arts Museum.

Public Service and Museum Reform

Oleksandr Roitburd was not only an artist but also an active public figure. He co-founded the "New Art" association in Odesa (1993), where he later served as art director (1993-1999) and president (1999-2001). He headed the board of the Soros Center for Contemporary Art in Odesa (1997-1999) and was the regional coordinator for the "Cultural Heroes" festival (2001-2002). In 2002, he became the director of the Gelman Gallery in Kyiv.

One of the most significant stages of his life was his directorship of the Odesa Fine Arts Museum. After winning the competition for this position in late 2017, Roitburd, despite resistance from some regional council deputies, signed a contract in March 2018 and immediately began large-scale reforms. He aimed to transform the museum from a municipal institution into a national-level collection. During his leadership:

• The museum began hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
• Premises were renovated, and lighting was upgraded.
• Restoration workshops were opened.
• The collection was expanded with 600 new works, some of which were personal donations from the artist (130-150 paintings, graphics, and sculptures).
• The Marazli Club was established, uniting patrons who raised almost 2 million UAH in 2020 for the museum's needs.
• Museum attendance and revenue from ticket sales significantly increased.

Roitburd was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests in Odesa in 2014 and consistently advocated for a pro-Ukrainian stance, which drew pressure from certain political forces. His dismissal from the museum director's post in 2019, initiated by the regional council, was ruled illegal by the court and sparked widespread public outcry and large-scale rallies in his support.

In October 2020, Alexander Roitburd was elected as a deputy to the Odesa Regional Council from the "European Solidarity" party, continuing his fight for national status for the Odesa Fine Arts Museum.

Legacy and Remembrance

Oleksandr Roitburd passed away on August 8, 2021, in Kyiv, which shocked the entire cultural community. Despite a severe illness, he worked on the "From the 20s to the 20s" exhibition at the Odesa Fine Arts Museum until his last day. His passing left a significant void in Ukrainian art but simultaneously drew even greater attention to his works and reform efforts.

Following his death, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Alexander Tkachenko, announced plans to create a museum of contemporary art in Odesa in memory of Roitburd. An alley in Odesa was named in his honor, and the value of his works in the art market significantly increased, confirming his status as one of Ukraine's most valuable artists.

Oleksandr Roitburd was a true son of his era — a hedonist, an intellectual, and an unparalleled master whose work eclectically combined global trends with national specifics. He didn't just create art; he lived it, using it as a powerful tool to express his thoughts, critique stereotypes, and change the world around him. His legacy comprises not only hundreds of unique works but also an example of selfless service to culture and his country.

Auction Sales:

• Works by Alexander Roitburd at Goldens (formerly Zolotoye Secheniye) art gallery and auctions, Kyiv, Ukraine - $35,000
• Works by Alexander Roitburd at Dukat auction house, Kyiv, Ukraine - $1,500 - $20,000
• Alexander Roitburd's painting "Air of Silence" at MacDougall's auction house, London, UK - Estimate £25,000–£30,000
• Alexander Roitburd's profile on the online platform Artsy