Chornyi Volodymyr Anatoliyovych

Volodymyr Anatoliyovych Chornyi was born on March 27, 1976, in the city of Kropyvnytskyi.

From childhood, he dreamed of becoming either an artist or a traveling biologist.
In 1994, he graduated from Vocational School No. 8 with a degree in decorative painting. Later, he received a professional education at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, in the easel graphics workshop of Professor A.V. Chebykin.

 

Volodymyr was always persistent in pursuing his goals. This determination made him a legend at the academy—he applied seven times, and was admitted on the eighth attempt. He believed he deserved to study on a government scholarship because of his talent—and he achieved that.

During his studies, and throughout his life, Chornyi infused his artworks with deep philosophical meaning, cultural and historical context, and sometimes humor.

 

Since 2006, he actively participated in exhibitions:

2006 – Participated in the exhibition "Semicolon" (as part of the national project "ArtTerritory") at the Chernivtsi Regional Art Museum; in the exhibition "A City Without a Name" (also part of "ArtTerritory") at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Art Museum; and took part in the "Dubno Castle" painting plein air in Dubno.

2007 – Participated in the exhibition "The Face of Things" (as part of "ArtTerritory") at the Chernihiv Regional Art Museum; and took part in the plein air art event "Kirovohrad Region Through the Eyes of Artists" in the Novomyrhorod district, and in the subsequent exhibition at the Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.

2008 – Participated in the national exhibition "Picturesque Ukraine" organized by the National Union of Artists of Ukraine in Dnipro; in the international ex-libris exhibition "Trypillia" at the NAOMA exhibition hall in Kyiv; in the H. Yakutovych Competition Exhibition by the National Union of Artists of Ukraine in Kyiv; and held a solo exhibition “MISCELANEA – MIX” at the Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.

The artist worked in his favorite technique — etching. This complex and time-consuming process revealed his passion for detail and allowed him to tell a story in each print. Chornyi's engravings are multilayered in meaning, rich in metaphors, and deeply rooted in philosophy, culture, and history.

 

After graduation, Volodymyr chose a career as a film set designer.
He masterfully crafted the atmosphere in films such as Pamfir (dir. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, 2022), Iron Butterflies (dir. Roman Liubyi, 2023), The Gateway (dir. Volodymyr Tykhyi, 2017), Lethal Kittens (Our Kitties, dir. Volodymyr Tykhyi, 2020), The Loyal Ones (dir. Khrystyna Syvolap, 2020), Eter (dir. Krzysztof Zanussi, 2018), and SHTTL (dir. Ady Walter, 2022).
He also worked as a production designer and set decorator for music videos for Okean Elzy, DREZDEN, Sonya Kay, TNMK, and others, as well as in commercials for Apple AirPods, Reno, and more.

 

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Volodymyr Chornyi, with the call sign "Kara", volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a senior sergeant fulfilling command duties, he and his brigade defended Marinka, helped liberate Lyman, and held the front line in the Svatove–Kreminna direction.

In the trenches, Volodymyr began writing short stories about the cross-section of society united by one goal: to drive the Russians out of our land.

He was killed in action on May 9 near the village of Balka Zhuravka, Luhansk region.

 

By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Chornyi was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd Class, and the Order for Courage, 3rd Class.