National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art is one of the largest art museums in Ukraine. It is located in the picturesque district of Kyiv, on the grounds of unique architectural ensemble Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Reserve) which was founded on the Dnieper slopes in the 11th century.  

The museum collection was established in 1899 as part of the collection of the newly founded City Antiquity and Art Museum.  

Now the museum contains over 75,000 artifacts of Ukrainian traditional folk and professional decorative art dating from 15th century to the present days. Many of them are household and domestic articles varied in material, shape, decoration, and purpose which talented craftsmen had turned into highly artistic items inhering the wealth of regional specificities. Art works created by professional artisans demonstrate implementation of established folk traditions in their creative concepts.

 

The museum permanent exhibition represents all types of Ukrainian folk art: carpet weaving, weaving, print, embroidery, ceramics, wood carving and painting, artistic leather work, horn and metal work, glassware, porcelain, folk painting and iconography. Having visited the museum you will find out more about an interesting world of the traditional folk culture.

Many visitors are also interested in glassware of the 15th – early 21st centuries. These are engraved crystal glass and so-called “guta” glass-ware (free glass blowing technique) decorated with enamel paints. Interesting multifigured compositions are made of multicoloured glass and crystal by professional painters from Kyiv and Lviv.

 

The museum possesses the largest collection of works (more than 600 paintings) by Maria Pryimachneko (1909-1997), the greatest painter in the style of naive art. She created a fabulous and fantastic world of different animals, birds and flowers.

In addition, the museum displays 37 beautiful graphic works of Ukrainian folk artist Kateryna Bilokur (1900-1961). Unique canvases of the genius painter continue to impress the visitors. The works of K. Bilokur are deservedly considered to be the masterpieces of the museum’s collection and belong to riches of domestic and world art.

The pride of the museum is its extensive collection of Ukrainian folk costumes of the 19th – first half of the 20th century representing all regions of Ukraine. It is a folk costume that can represent spiritual values of people, their taste, talents and skills. Also deserving mention are the collection of traditional trappings: “duckachs” (necklaces with coins as lockets), coral and Venetian glass beads, things made of beads and metal, silk woven sashes of 18th century, embroidered in gold and silver.

Discover the world of decorative painting of the 20th century, among which you will find works of the craftsmen from Petrykivka village (Dnipropetrivska region).

 

Visit the museum and experience the uniqueness of Ukrainian folk decorative art!

 

Address: 9 Lavrska Street

 

Entry cost:

Adults: 20 UAH

For students, pupils and retired persons: 8 UAH

Excursion cost:

Groups of up to 3 persons: 25 UAH

Groups of up to 20 persons: 40 UAH

 

Working hours:    Museum operates from 10 a.m. till 5:45 p.m., Tuesday - day off

Phone number:   +38(044) 280 1343, +38(044) 254 3642, +38(044) 280 3693

E-mail: musukrndm@kv.ukrtel.net