George B. Hura

Jurij Hura

July 7, 1930 – June 12, 2021

He was born in Lviv, Ukraine, to Daria and Osup Hura.  Jurij spent his early years in the village of Chaikovichi.  In 1939 the family escaped from their home in Chajkovichi to Peremyshl to avoid deportation to Siberia.  To escape further persecution the family moved in 1942 to Krakow, Poland where they lived for 30 years. There he studied art at the Lyceum of Fine Arts and later at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts from which he graduated in 1956.  His first solo art exhibit was in 1952 in Krakow.  Despite pressure from Soviet idealogues promoting socialist realism, Jurij continued to find his own realist style and his thoughts always remained with Ukraine and her traditions, culture and customs.  He often transferred his longings for the beauty of Ukraine onto his paintings.  In 1966 the journal Zebra published his “Series for the 20th Century” paintings that expressed his opposition to the communist system.  Soon afterwards, in 1968, Jurij emigrated to the USA.  At the request of Patriarch Slipyj, Jurij designed the Ukrainian Catholic Museum in Rome.  In 1982 he organized a department of art at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown where he conducted Saturday art and sculpture classes for children and adults for 6 years.  He worked for Commercial Advertising Art in Philadelphia for 22 years painting large billboards.

Jurij published “Hura Paintings and Sculptures” cataloging, showing and discussing the range and scope of his artwork.  But his proudest achievement was honoring the memory of his grandfather by publishing and illustrating 'Seeds of Wisdom', a collection of Father Yurij Kmit’s sermons and writings. The book gained many international accolades and Jurij received a warm thank you and congratulatory letter from Pope Francis.  Advancing age did not diminish his love nor ability in creating art; he continued to paint his entire life and he even left us with some paintings in progress upon his passing.

His works have been exhibited in Poland, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Paris, Toronto, Edmonton, Cote d’Azure, Biarritz, and others.  His paintings, lithographs, and sculptures are represented in collections at museums in Poland, Rome, Toronto, and Chicago.

Jurij was predeceased by his beloved wife Khrystyna to whom he was married for more than 40 years.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: Ukrainian Federation of America; Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center; or The ASPCA at ASPCA.org

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