Biography:
Aka Bohumyla Pereyma of Troy is the Ohio Heritage Fellow for Material Culture. Her work is of the highest significance within Ohio and Midwestern Ukrainian communities for which she has long served as a “living cultural treasure.” She also works with Ukrainian communities throughout the United States and in Ukraine. She has served as a creative repository of the visual symbolism of Ukranian culture, much of which was lost earlier in the 20th century. Her work in the Ukrainian pysanky decorated egg tradition is of the highest quality to be found anywhere in the world. Her ceramic work is unique in that it extends the familiar religious and secular symbolism of the pysanky tradition to a new medium. Pereyma’s work has been shown in art galleries and museums in the United States, Canada and Ukraine. She and her sister were in a traditional crafts exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Office of Folklife Programs. Many of her works are currently on long-term loan to the state museum of Ukraine and two books documenting her artistic career are in preparation. She was awarded the “Outstanding Ukrainian Artist” medal in October 2001. Pereyma enriches the lives of her community members and other Ohioans through her efforts to preserve and share Ukrainian arts in the state.