KUMF Gallery maintains a year round programme of art exhibitions showing works by emerging, mid-career and established visual artists.
Mychailo and Yaroslava Szafraniuk established The Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation and the KUMF Gallery in Toronto in 1975 as a non-profit organization. Mr. And Mrs. Szafraniuk donated to the Foundation their personal art collection, which they had acquired over many years. Their collection became the nucleus of the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation’s Permanent Collection. Mr. And Mrs. Szafraniuk also provided financial assistance to the Foundation, and devoted most of their time to the administration and growth of the Gallery.
Permanent Collection consists of more than 500 works of fine art by 155 works of well-known Canadian and American artists of Ukrainian background.
The KUMF Gallery operated by the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation was originally housed in Szafraniuk’s building at 2395 Bloor Street West in Toronto. As the exhibition program expanded and the Permanent Collection grew, a larger space was required. In 1979, the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation celebrated the opening of its new premises at 2118-A Bloor Street West. The new premises provided more exhibit area and better storage facilities. Sadly, Mr. Mychailo Szafraniuk passed away in 1991. Mrs. Yaroslava Szafraniuk continued to manage the Foundation and the KUMF gallery until her death in 1996.
