Lidiya Yakobchuk
I consider myself a Ukrainian icon painter, even though I was born and raised in Kazakhstan. Only after arriving in Lviv did I truly feel at home and realize that this is where I want to live and create.
My first experience of painting an icon fascinated me: mixing pigments with egg yolk felt like real magic. Layer by layer, this process turned into a prayer. From gluing the pavoloka to the final varnish stroke, I never feel as close to God as I do while painting an icon.
Was born on March 31, 1988, in the city of Taraz, Republic of Kazakhstan. She has Ukrainian roots — her grandfather was from Shepetivka in the Khmelnytskyi region.
She works in the traditional technique of icon painting on wood using levkas, pavoloka, egg tempera, natural pigments, and gold. She also applies mixed media with elements of acrylic binder, while preserving her dedication to natural pigments even in contemporary materials.
In her works, she follows the canons of icon painting, combining them with personal elements and a contemporary approach to composition and color.
As long as she can remember, she has always drawn. However, it was icon painting that helped her realize her true vocation.
Education
• 1999–2004 — Children’s Art School, Astana, Kazakhstan
• 2003–2006 — Vocational School No. 2, specialty “Performer of Decorative and Finishing Works,” Astana
• 2006–2011 — S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Architecture, Astana
• 2009, 2010 — Summer Icon Painting School “Radruzh,” Lviv
• 2010 — Summer Icon Painting School, Lavriv
• 2011–2017 — Lviv National Academy of Arts, Department of Sacred Art
Exhibitions
• 2017 — “Paskha Krasenna,” Archistratig Guest House, Lviv
• 2018–2025 — Christmas and Easter exhibitions, Iconart Gallery, Lviv
• 2021 — Exhibit of Modern Ukrainian Iconography, Philadelphia, USA
• 2023 — “Icons Save Lives,” Bayonne, New Jersey; Washington, USA
• 2023 — Ukrainische Ikonen, Katholische Akademie Stapelfeld, Germany
• 2023 — “The Icon from Lviv. And the Word Became Flesh,” Poznań, Poland
Charity projects and auctions
• 2023 — Altenburg, Germany, Sheptytsky Hospital Charity Foundation
• 2024 — “Heavenly Shield. Icons of Victory” for the center “4.5.0. Prykarpattia”
• 2024 — Plein air and exhibition “Resurrection and Ukraine,” Lviv National Academy of Arts
Her works are held in private collections in:
USA, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Singapore.