European Brick Gothic

Brick Gothic stands as one of the most striking architectural traditions of Northern Europe. Emerging between the 13th and 16th centuries in regions where stone was scarce, it transformed the humble fired brick into a medium for creating monumental churches, town halls, city gates, and fortifications—structures that continue to define the character of Baltic cities today.

In this lecture, participants will explore how Brick Gothic fused the soaring verticality and rich ornamentation of Gothic architecture with the restrained, rugged aesthetics of the North. We will look at why this style became synonymous with the Hanseatic League and how it shaped the urban landscapes from Lübeck and Gdansk to Tallinn and Riga.

The lecture invites a fresh appreciation of medieval architecture, revealing how extraordinary artistic achievements could emerge from the simplest of materials.

Olga V. Shkolna, professor of Fine Arts, is head of the Department of Fine Arts and Design at the Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University.

Time: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 12 - 2 PM EST (Toronto time), 19 - 21 (Kyiv time)

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_uPPDpMjSGOVe0jzwQiAAw

Sponsor: The Olzhych Foundation.