Kherson State University

🎓 Department of Fine Arts and Design, Kherson State University

This year’s defense of qualification works turned into a true celebration of creativity, innovation, and professional growth of our students!

🖌️ The diversity of genres and themes is truly impressive:
– Lyrical and decorative still life
– Digital landscapes
– Graphic series based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works
– Character concepts
– Corporate identity design
– Papier-mâché sculptural compositions
– And for the first time – plasticine stop motion animation!

💻 The students demonstrated mastery of both classical and modern techniques – from ink and watercolor to Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita. Their works harmoniously combine academic foundations with personal expression, stylization with respect for tradition, plasticity of form with expressive color palettes.

🔍 Especially noteworthy are projects that explore contemporary visual challenges – war and emigration, brand identity, mythological imagery, and cultural interpretation of literary classics.

💬 Sincere thanks to the academic advisors for their guidance and support, and to the students – for the inspiration and depth of their artistic visions.

🔹 Ahead lie new achievements, but today we are simply proud of you! 💙

🎨 Today, the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University hosted the opening of an exhibition showcasing creative academic works by students of the Faculty of Culture and Arts at Kherson State University. 🖌 The exhibition featured artworks created by students during the on-site learning week, presented in various painting and graphic techniques. Among the works were: ▪️ landscapes from different parts of Ukraine — including Ivano-Frankivsk region and the students’ native Kherson region ▪️ human figure sketches ▪️ portraits ▪️ creative decorative compositions 🤝 The organization of the exhibition marks another important step in the ongoing partnership between higher education institutions in the fields of culture and the arts. During the opening event, Volodymyr Fedorak, Director of the Institute of Arts at PNU, Nataliia Tereshchenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts at KSU, and faculty members from both universities discussed plans for implementing joint projects in the 2025–2026 academic year. 🎭 Collaborative creativity unites, inspires, and shapes a new cultural perspective!

5 червня 2025 року Робота з майстерні над творчими роботами. Майстер клас від викладачки образотворчого мистецтва і дизайну Гриценко Юлії на тему "Пейзаж в техніці акрилового живопису" для здобувачів 4 курсу.

During the on-campus learning week, students of the Department of Fine Arts and Design completed a variety of academic and creative assignments. Among them were graphic sketches from life, capturing the figures of dancers during choreography classes, and architectural sketches of Shevchenko Street near the main building of Kherson State University.

Additionally, they worked productively in open-air sessions (plein air painting), creating expressive artworks inspired by the natural beauty of Taras Shevchenko City Park.

Mariia Kozak has been awarded the Grand Prix at the International Art Competition "Ukraine–Spring: On the Alley of Ukrainian Stars"! 🌟
🏆 Her artwork, titled "Spring Near the Borshchivka", beautifully captures the spirit of spring in her native land.
📍 Borshchivka is a river near the village of Veletenske, Kherson region, where the artist lives.
🎨 Technique: canvas, oil painting.

We sincerely celebrate Mariia's success and wish her continued artistic inspiration and new creative achievements!

На запрошення Фахової онлайн школи завідувач кафедри образотворчого мистецтва і дизайну, кандидат педагогічних наук, доцент, член НСХУ Віталій Ракович провів лекцію на тему «Методологія формування візуального образу вистави у процесі вивчення дисципліни «Сценографія»»
Це складова апробації навчально-методичного матеріалу з дисципліни «Сценографія» перед поданням курсу на атестацію.
📢 Методологія формування візуального образу вистави у процесі вивчення дисципліни «Сценографія»
Як створити сценічний простір, що занурює глядача у світ вистави? Як кольори, фактури та світло формують емоційне сприйняття театрального дійства?
На лекції з дисципліни «Сценографія» у межах Фахової онлайн школи обговорювали:
🎭 Основні принципи формування візуального образу вистави
🖌️ Роль художника-сценографа: від ідеї до втілення на сцені
💡 Інтеграцію традиційних і цифрових технологій у сценографічному мистецтві
Також я поділився досвідом викладання освітньої компоненти «Сценографія» на кафедрі образотворчого мистецтва і дизайну Херсонського державного університету. Під час зустрічі ми обговорили нові експериментальні педагогічні програми та познайомилися з навчально-творчими здобутками талановитих студентів кафедри.
Щиро дякую організаторам Фахової онлайн школи за можливість долучитися до професійного обговорення та обміну досвідом!

The creative works of Vitalii Rakovych, Head of the Department of Fine Arts and Design at Kherson State University, are showcased in an exhibition at the Zakarpattia Academy of Arts.
🖌 This event serves as an important artistic dialogue between regions and reaffirms that art knows no boundaries. Vitalii Rakovych’s works captivate with their depth, technical mastery, and emotional richness.

Congratulations on this recognition, and may inspiration lead to new creative achievements!

On April 2, 2025, the Department of Fine Arts and Design of Kherson State University held a career guidance meeting with students of the Kaniv Vocational College of Culture and Arts.
📢 Natalia Tereshenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts, introduced students to admission opportunities and the features of studying at the faculty.
🎨 Vitalii Rakovych, Head of the Department, shared insights on innovations in art education, training future artist-educators, and opportunities for creative growth.
What was discussed?
🔹 Educational programs of the department and their unique opportunities
🔹 Career paths of our graduates: from teachers and artists to scenographers and contemporary art practitioners
🔹 How to develop talent: competitions, festivals, and artistic projects
🔹 International internships and the "Double Diploma" program – opening new horizons!
💫 The key is a creative community that inspires, nurtures, and supports.
We are proud of the achievements of our graduates and are excited to welcome new talents to our artistic family! 🎨

We are delighted to announce that Kateryna Sotsenko, a first-year student, has won a First-Degree Diploma at the XIV International Competition "American Art Fest" in the "Painting" category! Her artwork "Chase" impressed the jury with its mastery, creative approach, and emotional depth.

We are proud of Kateryna and wish her new achievements, inspiration, and further victories! 🌟

The Department of Fine Arts and Design sincerely congratulates Kateryna Sotsenko, a first-year student, on her successful participation in prestigious art competitions! Based on the results of the 2nd International Art Competition "Creative Geniuses of Modernity" and the All-Ukrainian Two-Round Art Competition "With Love for the Homeland", her works received high praise from the jury and were awarded First Prize. These achievements are the result of her hard work, professional growth, and creative exploration under the guidance of the department's teachers. The high level of her works demonstrates a deep understanding of art, mastery of painting techniques, and an original approach to creative tasks. The Department of Fine Arts and Design is proud of the achievements of its student and wishes her further creative accomplishments, new ideas, and inspiration for future artistic projects!

We warmly congratulate Alevtyna and Valeriia Prysyazhniuk on successfully completing their educational course! We are proud of your accomplishments and wish you inspiration, determination, and confident progress toward new educational and artistic heights! ☀️

Kherson State University proudly celebrates the achievements of its talented students and faculty members! We sincerely congratulate Kateryna Sotsenko, a student of the Department of Fine Arts and Design, and Vitalii Rakovych, the Head of the Department, on their victory in the two-round multi-genre festival-contest "Mystetski Barvy."

The event was held with the support of Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, the international radio "RADIO SFERA MUSIC," the Association of Variety Artists of Ukraine, and the International Talent Development Company "Tuaron."

We wish our laureates continued creative success and endless inspiration!

The Faculty of Culture and Arts of Kherson State University held the certification of graduates of the second (master's) level of higher education in the specialty 023 Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Restoration.

The master's students presented their qualification projects, showcasing creativity, professionalism, and profound knowledge. In their works, they explored contemporary trends in art, cultural heritage preservation, the use of innovative techniques, and many other relevant issues.
This was an important step toward the professional development of future artists and the preservation of our country's cultural values.

We sincerely congratulate our graduates on their successful certification and wish them inspiration, new achievements, and creative victories!

✨🎉Kherson State University is 107 years old!✨🎉

The Department of Fine Arts and Design sincerely congratulates the university on this significant date. We proudly joined the celebration and prepared a video presentation where the best professional works of our teachers and students are collected.

These are not just works - they are a reflection of talent, creativity and inspiration, which are formed and developed within the walls of our university. We thank KhSU for the opportunity to grow and create, to be part of a big family that appreciates art and innovation.

🎥 Watch the video, get inspired and feel the atmosphere of our joint creativity!

We are proud to be a part of KhSU! 💙💛

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At the 4th All-Ukrainian two-stage arts competition of masters and artists "Picturesque Ukraine," the Department of Fine Arts and Design achieved remarkable success. The department's professor, Vitaliy Rakovych, and his talented student, Kateryna Sotsenko, were awarded diplomas 🏅, highlighting their high level of professionalism and creative potential 🎨✨.

This competition provided a platform to showcase mastery, national spirit 🇺🇦, and modern artistic vision, which our participants represented vividly.

We congratulate the laureates and wish them further success in their artistic journey 🎉, creative inspiration ✨, and new achievements! 🌟

Teachers and students of the department of fine arts and design won diplomas at the 4th All-Ukrainian two-round art competition of masters and artists!

WE ARE!
Yesterday, March 22, the Cultural and artistic project "Kherson organization of the NSHU" was opened in the Kyiv House of Artists. Huge gratitude: to the Directorate of Exhibitions of the NSHU for organizing the exhibition, to Yana Golubyatnikova for the idea and maximum support of the event, to Khersonskaya OVA for the provided photos and personal support of the head Oleksandr Prokudin!!!!
This exhibition is special both for the regional group of artists and for Ukraine as a whole.
The terrible, full-scale attack of the aggressor neighbor, among countless dramatic events and irreversible losses, led to the painful isolation of artists from creative all-Ukrainian processes, in particular All-Ukrainian art exhibitions.
Among Kherson artists, there is currently not a single one who would be in "light" conditions... Some survived the occupation and have remained under merciless shelling until now. Some were forced to leave their native homes and workshops and are still abroad.
Most of the paintings presented at this Cultural and Art Project miraculously survived the occupation. These are works that at the time of the invasion were in the administrative building at the regional art exhibition. Thanks to the heroic efforts of Yana Golubyatnikova, an artist from Kherson, it was possible to move almost the entire collection from the "White House", which was captured by the Orcs, to the Union's art workshops. The fragile woman was not afraid to go to the den of enemies in March 2022 to demand and return almost all the works to the authors!
The other day, these paintings were taken out of the shelling from Kherson to Kyiv to become the basis of this exhibition.
Under better conditions, there would be more opportunities to show more Kherson authors and the best of their works. Some of these paintings, such as two wonderful paintings by Yulia Rosenzweig, are all that survived from the artist's life's creative heritage! All her other works, as well as her home and workshop, are currently in occupied Kakhovka. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the author will ever see her paintings again.
It was in Novaya Kakhovka that the best works of the Kherson native Vitaly Rakovych were located at the time of the invasion. The fate of these works is currently unknown. His painting "The Blue Wagon" is presented at the Kyiv exhibition, which, in the light of the events experienced, acquired a new philosophical tone.
The painting "Portal", painted by Olga Gonobolina, looks prophetic in a new way - one of her three paintings that were saved during the occupation.
The viewer's great interest is aroused by the works of Oleksandr Zhukovsky - they are always original in performance, unpredictable in idea. The artist does not betray himself even now. He, who survived all the horrors of the occupation and is under shelling in Kherson, created an impressive image of T.G. Shevchenko, inspired by the last poem and a landscape with chumaks by Kobzar.
Four lyrical watercolors of Kherson girl Svitlana Biletska, saved from orcs, are the decoration of this exhibition. Now the artist is abroad. Her house, which is located near the Antonivsky Bridge, was in its own hell from the first days of the invasion... Currently, Svitlana is engaged in teaching activities online. Creativity is available to her today - painting small watercolor sketches - solace for the soul and help of the Armed Forces (money from sales - to the military).
Olga Gulyaeva's work "God, save Ukraine" - a painting-prayer that was painted before the war and survived the occupation, is the lyric tuning fork of this exhibition.
Refinement of execution, filigree are characteristic of the works of Mykola Dovgan. It is hard to believe that two of the three works presented at the exhibition were born to the sounds of furious shelling of the city.
The mystical, unique, recognizable works of the artist Kostyantyn Tereshchenko have always attracted the attention of the audience. The fate of Konstantin and his family is dramatic in its own way - during the occupation, a daughter was born in Kherson. Young parents and a child are now abroad.
Kherson is the city of power and inspiration of Yana Golubyatnikova. Survived the occupation with dignity, now under fire... never leaves the brush! Despite the circumstances, he creates incredible, large-scale, in every sense, works: both in terms of size, skill of execution, and in terms of philosophical, deep content! The joy of life, tenderness, femininity and indomitable spirit - all this is in the bright, original canvases of the author!
A wonderful addition to the exhibition are photos of Kherson photojournalist Oleksandr Kornyakov!
There is no such art school that could be called "Khersonian". Probably, this can be explained by the fact that the two universities and schools in Kherson that teach art disciplines have an extremely diverse composition of teachers-bearers of stylistic trends from all over Ukraine. Perhaps, the variety of performance techniques and the brightness of the works is also due to the uniqueness of the natural environment and the warmth of the southern sun. Most likely, it is this variety that distinguishes the works of the Kherson people from other regional centers.
Behind each work is the author's own story, his personal drama or tragedy. Only some of the Kherson people, their creativity and fate are mentioned here. Unfortunately, not all of the members of the Union could be found for exhibiting their works at this exhibition. Some are no longer among the living. Even before the war, the Kherson group of artists was small in number,

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The work "New Year's Wish" depicts the dream of all Kherson residents - to see a peaceful and such native city. Many hidden symbols of the Kherson region are collected in the illustration. So, for example, an embroidered jacket with a rooster pattern is a regional distinction of Kherson itself. Hair-water additionally reminds us of the embankment of our city, where many important events took place. Every resident of Kherson has his own pleasant memories with this place, and we hope that there will be even more of them after our victory. Below you can see many buildings, among which is our university, unbreakable, no matter what...

I wish everyone a peaceful sky and I hope to see you soon in Kherson!💛💙

We congratulate Orina Panasovska, winner of the 421st group, on her victory in the All-Ukrainian multi-genre entertainment competition "Christmas and New Year Vernissage"

Master's student of our department, Andriy Kyrylyuk, took part in the exhibition of painting works of the NGO "Artistic Brotherhood" in the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Museum of Prykarpattia. The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religion of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The opening of the exhibition took place on December 13, 2023.
Congratulations Andriy! We wish you good, successful progress in the creative field, new achievements!

You can view the exhibition until January 14.

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An important event took place at the Department of Fine Arts and Design of Kherson State University - the defense of qualification works (projects) of applicants of the second (master's) level of higher education. Successful state certification is a certificate of the readiness of our masters to carry out professional activities in the fields of fine arts and education, as well as the acquisition of the necessary basic experience and competences in accordance with the mastered Educational and Professional Program "Fine Art, Decorative Art, Restoration".
Congratulations, dear colleagues! We wish you a happy fate and new adventures!

The Fine Arts and Design Department of Kherson State University hosted the Fine Arts Olympiad "Kherson Motives", reports the press center of Kherson State University.

The winners of the "Master" OKR were:

First place - Anastasia Naumenko.

2nd place - Natalia Chumachenko.

3rd place - Oksana Lipei.

Congratulations to the winners of the "Bachelor" OKR:

1st place - Victoria Gurnyk "Nova Kakhovka. The gateway to the HPP".

2nd place - Valery Prysiazhniuk "Pride of Kherson Region", Prysiazhnyuk Alevtina "Wealth of the Earth".

3rd place - Maria Kozak "Oleshkivski pisky".

On June 15, at the Department of Fine Arts and Design of Kherson State University, the state certification of applicants of the first (bachelor) level of higher education, specialty 023 - Fine art, decorative art, restoration was held. Congratulations to our talented winners, who were deservedly awarded the qualification of bachelors of fine arts, decorative arts, restoration!

From June 1 to 7, the regional online competition for the best drawing on the sports theme "Movement today - sports nation tomorrow" was held among schoolchildren and students. The event was attended by more than 60 students of various levels of education, including students of Kherson State University.

The competition was dedicated to the International Day of Children's Protection, and general management was carried out by the Kherson regional branch of the Committee on Physical Education and Sports of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Vitaliy Rakovych, head of the Department of Fine Arts of KSU, also provided all kinds of support in the organization to the Faculty of Culture and Arts of KSU.

The requirements for the work were simple - the drawing must be on a sports theme, made without the help of adults on any material and in any technique.

During the evaluation, the jury took into account the following features: adherence to the theme, meaningfulness, originality, creative approach, compositional and color decision.

Based on the results of the competition, the jury determined the winners and prize-winners. The youth of Kherson State University won almost all the prizes.

First place was shared by students of Kherson State University - Anastasia Naumenko and Ksenia Lipei.

Drawing by Ksenia Lipei 

Drawing by Anastasia Naumenko

Yegor Lebedev (Kherson State Maritime Academy) and Margarita Romanova (Kherson State University) took the 2nd place.

Drawing by Margarita Romanova

The students of Kherson State University Maria Kozak and Sofia Havryliuk shared the third place.

Drawing of Sofia Gavrilyuk    

Drawing of Maria Kozak

We congratulate our future artists and wish them creative inspiration and further victories!

All the winners and prize-winners of the competition were awarded diplomas of the respective degrees, and all the participants received certificates from the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ukraine.