Pepi Litman Born Ukrainian City ((new)) Jun 2026

Pepi's interest in art began at an early age, encouraged by her parents, who recognized her talent. She started drawing and painting, inspired by the colors and textures of traditional Ukrainian and Jewish folk art. As she grew older, Pepi became fascinated with the works of Ukrainian and Russian artists, including Isaak Levitan and Kazimir Malevich.

Ternopil provided the initial stage for her transformation. While many female performers of the era were confined to sentimental roles or traditional folk singing, Litman carved out a unique niche as a "mener-kenstler" or male impersonator. She didn’t just put on trousers; she adopted the persona of the "Galitzianer" Hassid, complete with a long coat, side-locks, and a hat. By performing in the guise of a man, Litman was able to satirize religious hypocrisy and social rigidities with a biting wit that a female performer in a dress might not have been permitted to express. pepi litman born ukrainian city