Khodanych Mykhailo

Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (2012). Laureate of the Prize named after Y. Bokshai and A. Erdeli (2013, 2016, 2017).

He was born in Uzhhorod. His first teacher and mentor was his father Petro Khodanych – a famous Transcarpathian writer and sculptor-woodcarver, who studied at the College of Applied Arts and subsequently worked at the Art Fund. Since his childhood, Mykhailo liked to look through the books on art, which were kept on a separate shelf among the considerable family book collection. Having recognized the ability to paint, he went to the children's art school. From 1996 to 2002 he studied at the Uzhhorod College of Arts named after A. Erdeli. His teaches were Ivan Masniuk, Yosyp Pal, Mykola Boldyzhara, Ihor Stefaniuk, Mykhailo Mykhailiuk. From 2002 to 2004 he studied at the Lviv Academy of Arts. Since 2004, Mykhailo has been working as a teacher at Uzhhorod College of Arts named after A. Erdeli and the Transcarpathian Academy of Arts. As a lecturer, he likes to search, catch the little pieces of the soul in sometimes naive, but sincere drawings of his students.

In his creative activity, the author prefers sculpture, decorative sacral carving, easel graphics, and sometimes painting. His hands never get tired of creating form and plastic, so the artist works with all sorts of materials and boldly experiments. But the one thing is definite: his works, which can often be seen at exhibitions, are always explicitly recognized.

One of the main topics of Mykhailo’s studies, analysis, research is a person. Thus, in his graphic works, he describes the beauty of the human body: the curve of the neck, back, shoulders …  The author himself explains it simply: an ant is interested in another ant, a man – in a man. In addition, the artist is inspired by the everything around – nature and mountains, the city and its citizens.

Mykhailo Khodanych is one of the authors of the "bizarre zoo" on Svoboda Avenue in Uzhhorod, which caused considerable resonance. The author is convinced that the sculpture should be inscribed in the public space and harmoniously intertwined with person's life.

Participant of regional, national, international exhibitions and plein air since 1999.