Street Renamed in Honor of Eugene Bukovetsky in Odesa
Vira Figner Street in Odesa has been renamed after Eugene Bukovetsky
Eugene Bukovetsky (1866–1948) was a significant Ukrainian painter and a key figure in the Odesa artistic scene of the early 20th century. Born and raised in Odesa, he studied at an art school under the guidance of Kyriak Kostandi and Gennady Ladyzhensky. After returning from Europe, where he refined his skills, he settled in Odesa in 1891, and within a year, his painting «At a Wealthy Relative» was acquired by the Pavel Tretyakov Gallery, marking a significant recognition of his talent.
His home at 27 Knyazha Street became a cultural hub in Odesa, frequented by artists, writers, and scholars. Notable visitors included Kyriak Kostandi, Korney Chukovsky, Alexei Tolstoy, Vladimir Filatov, aviator Sergey Utoshkin, and historian De Ribas. Bukovetsky created a series of portraits of prominent Odesans, which solidified his status as the «main portraitist of the city». His likenesses inspired characters in the works of Ivan Bunin and Alexander Kuprin.
After the 1917 revolution, he remained in Odesa, opened an art studio, participated in the establishment of the Kyriak Kostandi Art Society, and from 1937 taught at the Odesa Art School. During World War II, he continued to work and preserve the artistic heritage. In 2017, his house at 27 Knyazha Street became the Bukovetsky Museum-Studio.
