Boris Mikhailovich Artzybasheff: A Life in Surreal Illustration Early Life and Origins Born: Kharkiv, Ukraine, 1899. Artzybasheff’s early life remains somewhat undocumented, but his origins in the vibrant cultural landscape of pre-revolutionary Ukraine undoubtedly shaped his artistic sensibilities. He later emigrated to the United States, establishing a career that would span several decades and leave a lasting mark on illustra…