Akim Levich (born February 16th, 1933 in Kamianets-Podilsky) – Ukrainian artist and illustrator. In 1961, he graduated from the painting department of the Kiev State Institute of Art (S. Grigoriev’s studio).
Since the beginning of the 1960’s he worked as a graphic artist and illustrator of children’s books published by Veselka. In 1974, he became the chief art editor of the Maliatko magazine. In the 1970s’ Levich illustrated several children’s stories written by Hryhir Tiutiunnyk (“Steppe fairytale”, “One-winged” etc.). In 1967, Levich became a member of the USSR Artists’ Union, nowadays called the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
He is one of the leading artists from the Ukrainian art underground of the late 1960’s – early 1980’s. The evolution of his oeuvre is typical for the entire generation of the sixties, which tried to restore not only technology, but also the “language” of art under the doctrine of Socialist realism. Emphasized author manner, metaphorical imagery and the range of subjects that are far from the socialist realist themes determined “unofficial” status of the artist. That is why his paintings were not exhibited in the period from 1970 to 1985.
Major works of Levich’s oeuvre include “Tram” (the first title – “House on the corner”, 1959), “Funeral in Kyiv” (the first title – “Grandmother’s funeral,” 1970), the biblical cycle of 1967-1972 (“Dispute”, “Mountain sermon”, “Job”, “Misty morning”), the “black paintings” of the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s (“Sick dog”, “Blind man”, “Conversation”, “Harvester”).
Akim Levich is the author of sculptural reliefs’ of “Menorah” memorial sign (1991, Babyn Yar) in Kiev (architect – Yurii Paskevich, engineer – Borys Hiller, artists – Akim Levich and Aleksandr Levich).
His works are preserved in the National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv History Museum, regional art museums in Ukraine, Zimmerli Art Museum at the Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA), in private collections in Kyiv, St. Petersburg, Sofia as well as in the USA, England, Israel and Germany.
