Boris Voznitskiy Director of the Lviv Art Gallery Date of Birth: 16.04.1926 Country: Ukraine

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Service and Museum Career
3. Contributions to Ukrainian Culture
4. Honors and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Boris Voznytsky was born on April 16, 1926, in the village of Ulybarov (now Nahirne), Dubensky district, Rivne region, Ukraine. He completed his studies at the Lviv College of Applied Arts named after Trush (1950-1955) before graduating from the Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, Faculty of Art History and Theory, in Leningrad (1956-1962).

Military Service and Museum Career

During World War II, Voznytsky served in a disciplinary battalion of the Soviet Army before becoming deputy director of the Museum of Ukrainian Art in Lviv from 1960 to 1962. In 1962, he was appointed director of the Lviv Picture Gallery, which he transformed into one of the largest museum complexes in Ukraine.

Contributions to Ukrainian Culture

Under Voznytsky's leadership, the Lviv Gallery of Arts incorporated several historic castles in Galicia: Olesky, Zolochiv, Pidhirtsi, and Svirzh. He played a pivotal role in bringing sculptor Johann Pinzel to prominence. Additionally, Voznytsky founded museums such as the Museum of First Printer Ivan Fedorov, the Shakhevych Museum-Estate, the "Mermaid of Dnister" Museum, and the Museum of the Most Ancient Monuments of Lviv. He also oversaw the restoration of the defensive tower in Pyatnychani, the Bernardine Church in Lviv, and the Boim Chapel.

Honors and Legacy

Voznytsky received numerous accolades, including Doctor Honoris Causa from the Warsaw Academy of Arts and Honorary Member of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine. He was conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine in 2005 for his exceptional contributions to the national revival of Ukraine and the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian cultural heritage. Voznytsky also received the Order of Merit, Second Class (2001), the Honorary Sign of Distinction of the President of Ukraine (1996), and the Cross of Ivan Mazepa (2010). He was awarded the State Prize of Ukraine named after T. Shevchenko (1989), the Golden Medal of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine (2006), and the Commander's Order of Poland (2004). Voznytsky was honored with the J. Kochanowski Prize (1990) and the title of Meritorious Activist of Polish Culture (1984). He received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the Krakow Higher Pedagogical School in 1998. Boris Voznytsky passed away on May 6, 2019, leaving an enduring legacy in the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian culture.