{"id":1991394,"date":"2026-06-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1991394"},"modified":"2026-06-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:00:00","slug":"annalise-gratovichs-life-size-woodcuts-meld-nature-memory-and-ukrainian-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1991394","title":{"rendered":"Annalise Gratovich\u2019s Life-Size Woodcuts Meld Nature, Memory, and Ukrainian Heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-6.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a large woodblock and paper-collaged print of a spiritual figure\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Annalise Gratovich\u2019s Life-Size Woodcuts Meld Nature, Memory, and Ukrainian Heritage<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-15T09:58:44-05:00\">June 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F06%2Fannalise-gratovich-woodcut-printmaking-ukraine-memory%2F&amp;title=Annalise%20Gratovich%27s%20Life-Size%20Woodcuts%20Meld%20Nature%2C%20Memory%2C%20and%20Ukrainian%20Heritage\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"475058\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the statement for <a href=\"https:\/\/annalisegratovich.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Annalise Gratovich<\/a>\u2019s solo exhibition, <em>Carrying Things From Home<\/em>, the gallery poses a couple of questions: \u201cWhen war, displacement, and migration sever familial and cultural ties, how do we sustain a sense of self and ancestral connection? How do we hybridize in a new homeland?\u201d For the artist, who is based in Austin and runs High Low Print Co., her family\u2019s history informs a printmaking practice that explores deeply personal and even spiritual links to land, home, and a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hechoamano.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hecho a Mano<\/a> presents eight large-scale, hand-carved woodblock prints in <em>Carrying Things From Home<\/em>, which have been painstakingly created between 2014 and 2025. Gratovich meticulously carves totemic, matryoshka-like figures that stand nearly life-size with headdresses of flora and fauna and garments that resemble embroidered Ukrainian textiles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d carving\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d carving\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d carving\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-4.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of the face and garments of a woodblock print of a spiritual figure\" class=\"wp-image-475066\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Fool\u201d carving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The series taps into Gratovich\u2019s ancestral history, nodding to the tumult of World War II when her grandparents fled Ukraine in the cover of night with their son\u2014the artist\u2019s father\u2014and could only take what they could physically carry. \u201cWhat was lost or left behind has become a source of mystery and mythology, and through printmaking, I investigate how this absence influences my sense of self and how I value materiality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>The blocks themselves can take up to six months to carve, and then working with her team, Gratovich adds thin pieces of colorful paper through <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chine-coll%C3%A9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chine coll\u00e9<\/a>. \u201cFor my most recent works in the series, \u2018The Healer\u2019 and \u2018The Fool,\u2019 I prepared close to 2,000 pieces of paper,\u201d she says. \u201cThey have 69 and 70 pieces of hand dyed paper coloring each woodcut, respectively.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gratovich\u2019s serene figures coalesce with nature and symbolic objects, such as musical instruments and animals, reflected in titles like \u201cThe Builder,\u201d who holds a raptor, and \u201cThe Healer,\u201d who balances a swirling, cosmic flow of energy. And from carved block to expansive print, the process requires precision and a few helping hands. \u201cThere\u2019s a community aspect that\u2019s engaging and fun\u2014my big woodcuts require a team of four people to print,\u201d the artist tells Colossal. \u201cWe use a printing press that is over four by eight feet, and everyone is integral in the printing process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Carrying Things From Home <\/em>continues through June 28 in Santa Fe. Gratovich is also preparing for a residency at <a href=\"https:\/\/helloprintfriendstudios.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hello Print Friend Studios<\/a> in Chang Mai, Thailand, after which she\u2019ll be the keynote speaker at the <a href=\"https:\/\/guildofbookworkers.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guild of Bookworkers<\/a>\u2019 Standards of Excellence 2026 conference. That takes place in Austin, where she also has a studio at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canopyaustin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canopy Austin<\/a> complex, which is open by appointment. See more on the artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/annalisegratovich\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"Pulling \u201cThe Healer\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Pulling \u201cThe Healer\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Pulling \u201cThe Healer\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3138\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-3.jpg\" alt=\"a large woodblock print being pulled by two artists\" class=\"wp-image-475065\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pulling \u201cThe Healer\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-6.jpeg\" alt=\"a large woodblock and paper-collaged print of a spiritual figure\" class=\"wp-image-475068\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"Detail of \u201cThe Fool.\u201d Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_title=\"Detail of \u201cThe Fool.\u201d Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_caption=\"Detail of \u201cThe Fool.\u201d Photo by Agave Print\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-5.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of a large woodblock print\" class=\"wp-image-475067\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of \u201cThe Fool.\u201d Photo by Agave Print<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-2.jpg\" alt=\"paper being collaged onto a large carved woodblock\" class=\"wp-image-475064\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2602\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-1.jpg\" alt=\"two artists collaging paper onto a large carved woodblock\" class=\"wp-image-475063\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding paper to \u201cThe Fool\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-11.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"\u201cThe Builder\u201d (2017), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Builder\u201d (2017), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Builder\u201d (2017), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3583\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-11.jpeg\" alt=\"a large woodblock and paper-collaged print of a spiritual figure holding a falcon\" class=\"wp-image-475062\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Builder\u201d (2017), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"\u201cThe Hunter\u201d (2024), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Hunter\u201d (2024), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Hunter\u201d (2024), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-10.jpeg\" alt=\"a large woodblock and paper-collaged print of a spiritual figure holding a hare\" class=\"wp-image-475061\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Hunter\u201d (2024), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475058\" title=\"\u201cThe Healer\u201d carving\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Healer\u201d carving\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Healer\u201d carving\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1423\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gratovich-7.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of a huge woodcut\" class=\"wp-image-475069\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Healer\u201d carving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/06\/dot-art-award-2026-honors-the-story-behind-the-artwork\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cThe Fool\u201d (2025), woodcut with hand-dyed chine coll\u00e9, 71 x 41 inches. Photo by Agave Print Annalise Gratovich\u2019s Life-Size Woodcuts Meld Nature, Memory, and Ukrainian Heritage June 15, 2026 Art Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark In the statement for Annalise Gratovich\u2019s solo exhibition, Carrying Things From Home, the gallery poses a couple of questions: \u201cWhen [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1991394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1991394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991394\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1991394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1991394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1991394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}