[1] In Kraków, he studied under Polish painters Leon Wyczółkowski and Jacek Malczewski, and he became a member of the Lviv-based Society for Development of Ruthenian Shtuky [uk] in 1898.

[2] In early works, Kurylas focused heavily on social issues, such as orphans and the homeless.

He was active in painting commissioned portraits, the money of which he spent on a trip to culturally-significant European cities in 1903.

Two years later, he produced some of his most popular works, including portraits of Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Kotliarevsky, and Ukraine's hetmans.

[2] In the final years of his life, his paintings were closer to themes of Ukrainian nationalism and patriotism.