An opening of a personal exhibition of paintings and graphic works of a well-known Oleksandriia artist S.F.Nikolenko and a presentation of a catalogue “Stepan Nikolenko sun palette” took place on May 3, 2018 in O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum. Both events were held within a museum art project of a series of art exhibitions “Laureates ofRegional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin” aimed at promotion the creative work of the artists who became laureates of the award in the nominations “national tradition” and “new tendencies”, also it presupposes organization of personal exhibitions and publication of catalogues with articles about the artists and reproductions of their best works.
    Nikolenko Stepan Fedorovych (born 1941) - honorary freeman of Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad region (2008). Laureate of Regional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin in the nomination “national tradition” (2012). Graduated from Fine art and graphic art Faculty of Krasnodar State Pedagogical Institute (1968).Nearly for 40 years had been the director of Oleksandriia Children School of Art (1973-2012), now works as a teacher in Oleksandriia College of Culture and Arts. S.F.Nikolenko successfully combines his pedagogical work with creative work. He is an active participant of all-Ukrainian, regional and local art exhibitions, also presented his personal exhibitions for many times. Prefers realistic method of execution in his creative work. His works can be found in the museum and personal collections in Ukraine and abroad. Nearly fifty paintings and graphic works of different years – lyrical landscapes, picturesque stilllifes and portraits of contemporaries, are presented at the exhibition.
    S.F.Nikolenko was congratulated on the personal exhibition opening by first deputy head of Kirovohrad Regional State Administration Serhii Kovalenko, head of Culture and Tourism Department of Town Council of Kropyvnytskyi Anna Nazarets, colleagues pedagogues - member of the board of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, head of Fine Art Department of Kirovohrad Children School of Arts Yurii Vintenko and a teacher of Kirovohrad Children School of Art named after O.O.Osmerkin Svitlana Hnoieva, and also a leading researcher of the museum, Merited Artist of Ukraine Andrii Nadezhdin, who is a compiler of the exhibition catalogue.
    At the vernissage S.F.Nikolenko answered the journalist questions and communicated with everyone who visited the museum. He told about his life and works shown at the exhibition, and also the artist signed the catalogues for the worshipers of his creative work.