Oleh Minko's work reflects the worldview of Ukrainian intellectuals who resisted the Soviet system and created the basis for Ukrainian independence. A keen interest in the events and phenomena of life, and the desire to show the basic human principles are present in his paintings of the second half of the 1960s. The works of that time have a unique ‘hermetic language’ that he expresses in the symbolism of color, simple shapes, and objects. They are often dominated by dark tones, which direct the viewer's focus to the inner world of a person.
In the early 1970s, Oleh Minko made an external compromise with the environment, painting genre compositions and landscapes. Even in such circumstances, he tried to create metaphysical images.
Since the late 1980s, Oleh Minko has been going through a period of self-analysis and building his spiritual hierarchies. The images of biblical characters and bright figures from the artist's life seem to symbolize Ukraine's return to the values of a democratic society.
