Artist: Kokin, M.

Michael (Mikhail) Aleksandrovich Kokin (1921–2009) was a Ukrainian painter celebrated for his luminous, lyrical still lifes and landscapes. Born in Dnepropetrovsk (today Dnipro), he studied at the Dnepropetrovsk Art College and later graduated from the Kiev State Art Institute in 1954. From the late 1940s onward, Kokin exhibited widely across Ukraine and became a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine in 1958.

Working in a modern Impressionist vein, Kokin transformed everyday subjects—blossoming branches, bouquets, fruit on a table—into vibrant meditations on light, harmony, and quiet joy. His energetic brushwork and rich, tactile surfaces create paintings that feel both immediate and timeless. Balancing accessibility with painterly rigor, his art conveys a deep affection for the ordinary moments of life.

In recognition of his contribution, he was named Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR in 1976 and People’s Artist of Ukraine in 2001. His works are held in major Ukrainian museums, including those in Dnipro, Chernihiv, Donetsk, and Kamianets-Podilskyi, as well as in private collections worldwide.

Kokin’s paintings remain enduring symbols of light, abundance, and the poetry of the everyday.