Pleiades: 160 years of Grekovka - an exhibition that unites eras

Odesa once again affirmed its status as the capital of Ukrainian art. On July 3, the Odesa Art Museum hosted the "Pleiades" exhibition, commemorating the 160th anniversary of the M.B. Grekov Odesa Art College—an event of immeasurable significance in the history of the entire Ukrainian art school. This is more than just an exhibition; it's a cross-section of the country's cultural DNA. 

A College That Became a Phenomenon

Odesa's "Grekivka" is not just the alma mater of hundreds of talents; it's an institution of meaning, a school that gave birth to a phenomenon. For 160 years, generations who inscribed their names in Ukrainian and world art history studied, taught, and found inspiration here. Among its graduates are Gerus, Pavlyuk, and Havdzinsky, who not only forged their own artistic directions but also raised entire dynasties, passing the torch to their children and grandchildren.

Some of them, as is well-known, became Honored and People's Artists of Ukraine. Others moved abroad and continued to glorify the Ukrainian school in Paris, New York, Tel Aviv. But their roots are here, in Odesa, on the quiet streets by the sea, where the studios still smell of oil paint and patience.

A Space Filled with Living History

The exhibition unfolded in the museum's historic halls. Even at the entrance, it was clear that interest in the event was immense: a long queue, lively discussions, camera flashes, professional cameras, and a diverse crowd—from young students and teachers to esteemed artists and art critics.

The first part of the exposition was dedicated to graphics and drawing—the foundations of the academic school. These works are restrained in form but boundless in content. Portraits, figurative studies, life drawings—all demonstrate the high standard of technical mastery set by "Grekivka" as early as the 19th century.

The second part featured painting. From Impressionism to Socialist Realism, from lyrical landscapes to expressive portraits—this section showcased not only the evolution of artistic language but also the transformation of the artist's mentality across different eras. Works featuring themes of the sea, the city, and daily life garnered particular attention—they seemed to be painted with love for Odesa, yet each time, they presented it anew.

A Bridge Between Past and Future

Symbolically, the exhibition featured not only works by masters but also by young artists—current students and recent graduates. This underscores the continuity of tradition, the vitality of the school, and its ability to avoid stagnation in the past, instead seeking and shaping new forms.

It is here that the difference between "education" and "school" becomes apparent. Education can be acquired in three years, but a school is formed over decades and continues to live on in its students.

Why This Matters

In an era when Ukrainian identity and culture are under pressure and fighting for self-preservation, such exhibitions are more than just cultural events. They are acts of artistic resistance, a restoration of historical memory, and a declaration for the future.

Grekivka is one of those rare institutions that connect the past and the future, the personal and the public, the local and the universal. The "Pleiades" exhibition once again demonstrated: art lives on as long as there are those who continue it. And Ukrainian art—it has a face, hands, and a gaze, nurtured in the studios on Preobrazhenska Street.

In the biographies of artists, we always include their professional education. Head over to the Artists section and find paintings for your collection.