Profile – Halyna Nowakiwsky, renowned artist

Halyna was born in Peremyshel, Ukraine on April 4, 1923. She was the only daughter of Oleksander and Amelia Molodecky. She was predeceased by her brother Volodomyr.

Halyna pursued her artistic passion and studied at the Institute of Plastic Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. Her studies ended abruptly in 1943 due to the war. Halyna continued her studies in Vienna, Munich and Paris. It was at this time that Halyna and Roman met and in 1945, they married in Munich. In 1948, together with their infant son Orest, they embarked from Bremenhafen to be welcomed by Canada at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After living for a short time in Grimsby, Ontario, the family settled in Toronto where her daughter Christine was born.

Halyna loved her family dearly and supported her children and grandchildren through their life journeys. She was an involved and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Halyna was a passionate and driven artist. Halyna specialized in oil and mixed media paintings. She was prolific: painting daily and producing thousands of works. She particularly loved landscapes, city scapes, genre scenes, still life, icons and views of nature. Over the last two decades, Halyna and her long-time friend Andrij Babytsch and colleague in art, who predeceased her, travelled around eastern Ontario painting landscapes, with Burleigh Falls and Holland Marsh being their favourite locations. Her work is displayed in many homes and several galleries and her work will continue to be her voice and legacy.

Halyna exhibited her work in group shows and solo exhibitions in Canada as well as the United States and Ukraine. She was an active member of the Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada, the Society of Canadian Artists and the Colour and Form Society. Her works are treasures that will remain with us.