One of the most expressive objects of Ukrainian intangible heritage is the art of Petrykivka painting — a unique decorative ornamental painting that originated in the Dnipro region, in the village of Petrykivka around the 18th–19th centuries.
A key feature of intangible heritage is precisely its “living” status — it exists as long as there are people who cultivate this craft and pass it down from generation to generation. Yet there is always a risk of permanently losing such an important element of Ukrainian history, culture, and identity.
A step toward resolving this issue was taken by the Ukrainian artist Daria Vyshniak, who initiated an authorial methodology for applying ornamental patterns and gave this ancient craft a real chance not only to be preserved, but also to become relevant at the international level today.
Who Is Daria Vyshniak
Daria Vyshniak is a Ukrainian artist known for her mastery of Petrykivka painting. She was born and raised in the city of Rubizhne in the Luhansk region and from childhood gravitated toward culture and art, being passionate about embroidery and decorative and applied arts.
From 2009 to 2014, Daria received her education at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, where she obtained a master’s degree in Sociology. Today she lives and works in the United States, where she successfully participates in numerous artistic projects, conducts educational events (master classes), and shares her scientific observations on the development of the tradition, its cultural significance, and its evolution in the international context.
Free Style, Exhibitions, Master Classes: The Path of Daria Vyshniak
he began her professional path in a free style — she painted “what she felt.” After her forced emigration to the Polish city of Lublin, the artist began mastering the art of Petrykivka painting, in which she almost immediately achieved significant success. It was there, in Poland, that her first triumph awaited her — her paintings were selected for participation in an art exhibition at the Lublin Town Hall.
The exhibition became an impetus for Daria to continue her professional path. Already in the summer of 2023, her contribution was recognized with a letter of appreciation at the city level of Lublin, and later, in September of the same year, the artist moved to the city of Temple Terrace and continued to develop as an artist in the United States.
America became a discovery for Daria — she participates in art fairs, conducts her own master classes dedicated to Petrykivka painting, continues to actively research and develop as an artist, and promotes Ukrainian culture far beyond the borders of her native country.
Authorial Methodology of Petrykivka Painting by Daria Vyshniak
The extensive experience of the artist Daria Vyshniak helped her look at Petrykivka painting from different perspectives. It is not only about the combination of colors or the complexity of the ornament, but about the issue of the craft as intangible heritage, which risks remaining solely on the pages of history textbooks.
This issue greatly concerned Daria and became the impetus for the artist to initiate her own methodology of Petrykivka painting, preserving its essence and value while combining it with modernity.
Essence of the Methodology
The main idea of the methodology is to apply the classical Petrykivka ornamental pattern to flexible textile and synthetic surfaces. For this purpose, Daria proposed using several technologies and unique techniques:
• micro-priming;
• double stabilization layer;
• combined brushstroke technique.
Thus, Daria succeeded in combining the color palette of the ancient Ukrainian tradition with modernity, as a result of which Petrykivka painting gained even greater popularity and sparked a wave of interest among foreigners in Ukrainian culture.
Features of the Methodology
The introduction of Daria’s own methodology became a solution to several pressing issues at once:
- Limitations regarding the use of surfaces. Traditionally, Petrykivka painting has been seen on paper or wood. In turn, the artist significantly expanded the possibilities by proposing the implementation of Petrykivka in textile products.
- Fragility of products. Through the use of techniques — micro-priming, a double stabilization layer, and others — the ornament retains its integrity and color saturation even during active use of the products.
- Risks of the disappearance of intangible heritage. Daria Vyshniak’s innovation transformed Petrykivka painting into an element of contemporary culture while preserving all the subtleties of traditional ornamentation and symbolism.
The artist’s authorial methodology has already been duly recognized by other artists. It is regarded not only as an artistic approach, but also as a tool for preserving and developing Ukrainian intangible heritage within the global cultural space. Moreover, this is another important feature of the methodology — the international integration of an element of Ukrainian culture and art and the strengthening of the Ukrainian presence in world history.
From Methodology to Patent: The Innovation of Daria Vyshniak
The enthusiasm that met Daria Vyshniak’s innovation became the driving force behind her filing for a patent in the United States. It received the title “Methodology for Applying Decorative Ornamental Painting on Flexible Textile and Synthetic Surfaces Using Micro-Priming, a Double Stabilization Layer, and a Combined Brushstroke Technique.” The patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Application No. 63/922,400, filing date 11/21/2025.
The patent filing became an important step not only for the artist herself but also for Ukrainian culture as a whole. It secured the authorial methodology as an innovative solution in the field of decorative and applied arts and at the same time became an instrument for protecting Ukrainian intangible heritage at the international level.
The patent already opens opportunities for scaling the methodology and popularizing Petrykivka painting, introducing innovation into educational and intercultural projects, and shaping Ukraine’s place in the global cultural space and its image among international admirers of art.
The Importance of Daria Vyshniak’s Work for Ukraine and Ukrainian Culture
The significance of Daria Vyshniak’s work goes beyond a simple contribution to art and culture. Her activity is no longer just painting, but a full-fledged study of an ancient Ukrainian tradition, its development in the conditions of the modern world, and the search for real solutions on how to preserve and present Ukrainian ornaments to the entire world.
The authorial methodology of Petrykivka painting by Daria demonstrates that traditional Ukrainian art is capable not only of being preserved in museums, but also of evolving while remaining recognizable and relevant in the global cultural space.
Daria Vyshniak’s work is an example of how a personal creative path transforms into a global cultural contribution. Through research, educational activities, exhibition projects, and international recognition, she shapes a modern image of Ukraine, making it understandable and accessible to the entire world.
