The exhibition “First of all is an Artist: Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Works of Merited Architect of Ukraine Vitalii Kryvenko” is dedicated to the commemoration day of Merited Architect of Ukraine, a citizen of honor of Kirovohrad, now Kropyvnytskyi, Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko (1937-2020). It is presented within the art project “In an Artist’s Studio”.
    The exhibition was organized by the initiative of the architect’s widow Liudmyla Ivanivna Kryvenko. The exposition consists of 76 paintings and graphic works from the family collection. Landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and narrative-thematic paintings were created by Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko between 1960 – 2000, and they reveal another side of his creative personality. The exhibition is completed with the documents and photographs from the archive of V.Ye.Kryvenko.
    Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko has dreamt of being an artist since his childhood. According to the architect’s memoirs published in the all-Ukrainian weekly newspaper “Ukraina-tsentr” No15 (1426) – 18 (1429), April 15 – May 6, 2021, edited by the famous journalist Olena Nikitina from Kropyvnytskyi, who suggested the title of the exhibition dedicated to the memory of the artist: “My interest to drawing has aroused unexpectedly in my childhood”.
    “While exploring the works of the exposition of the exhibition, you may think that Vitalii Kryvenko’s interest in history, work of the projects for the museums of Marko Kropyvnytskyi and Oleksandr Osmerkin, creation of heraldry system, memorials is his attempt to bring the town to life, give sense to its existence. It seems that he shapes a new portrait of the polis from the real significant images of the past for which he stands up. Not without a reason, another architect, a wife of the painter Oleksandr Osmerkin Nadiia Heorhiivna with whom Vitalii Yefremovych communicated a lot, signed a catalog of the outstanding artist and wrote there: “To Vitalii Yefremovych a companion and a true, demanding architect of principle who is committed to the planned house-museum of the painter Osmerkin in Kirovohrad. 29.06.1990. N.Osmerkina”, - mentioned the art history expert, Merited Artist of Ukraine Andrii Nadezhdin in the introductory article “Secrets of the Creative Work of the Merited Architect of Ukraine Vitalii Kryvenko” to the catalog of the exhibition.
    Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko (August 13, 1937 – May 24, 2020) was born in Kirovo (now Kropyvnytskyi). Graduated with honors from Ivanovo Art College (1968) and Kyiv Institute of Engineering and Construction, now Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, the Department of Urban Development (1976). A member of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine. Merited Architect of Ukraine (2009). A freeman of the town of Kirovohrad (2014). A laureate of the Regional Award in Architecture, Heraldry, Vexillology, Decorative and Applied Art named after Yakiv Pauchenko in the nomination “heraldry and vexillology” (2004, 2018).
    The founder and head of Kirovohrad Regional Department of Ukrainian Heraldry Union (1996-2020). The chief architect of the town of Kirovohrad (1976-1987), the chief architect of Kirovohrad industrial group “Chervona Zirka” (1987-1991), the head of the Department of City Planning, Architecture, Land Planning, and Land-Use of Kirovohrad City Executive Committee (1991-1996).
    Is the author and co-author of more than 50 projects of constructions of the social and cultural sphere, monuments and municipal improvement objects in Kropyvnytskyi. The most famous among them are: Memorial Complex to the Fallen Soldiers on the Ramparts (the sculptors - People’s Artist of Ukrainian SSR Vasyl Ahibalov, Merited Artist of USSR Yakiv Ryk) 1981, M.L.Kropyvnytskyi Memorial Museum 1982, Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytskyi (the sculptors – People’s Artist of the USSR Makar Vronskyi and Merited Art Worker of Ukraine Anatolii Honchar) 1992, Project of the Reconstruction of the General Post Office and installation of the sculpture of Angel-foreteller in the niche of the attic floor (the sculptor – Merited Art Worker of Ukraine Anatolii Honchar) 2000, Monument to Guardian Angel (the sculptor – Merited Art Worker of Ukraine Anatolii Honchar) and Soborna Square near it 2004,Monument to the founders of the plant ‘Chervona Zirka” (Red Star) brothers Robert and Thomas Elvorti (the sculptor – People’s Artist of Ukraine Mykola Oliinyk) 2004, Project of the reconstruction of the square and the monument “Internationalist Soldiers of All Generations in the Kirovohrad Region” 2008, Project of the creation of the square outside the City Council and installation of the monument to the mayor of Yelisavethrad (now Kropyvnytskyi) Oleksandr Pashutin (the sculptor – Merited Art Worker of Ukraine Liubomyr Yaremchuk) 2009, Monuments to outstanding countrymen: to the Hero of the Soviet Union Hryhorii Kuropiatnykov (the sculptor – a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine Arkadii Matsiievskyi) 2010, to the Nobel Laureate Ihor Tamm at the square outside the Research and Development enterprise “Radiy” (the sculptor – Volodymyr Tsysaryk) 2012, to the public figure Volodymyr Kyrylovych Vynnychenko at the square outside Central Ukrainain Pedagogical University named after V.Vynnychenko (the sculptor – Volodymyr Tsysaryk) 2010, to a pedagofue and pianist Heinrich Neuhaus at the square outside the Music College (the sculptor – Volodymyr Tsysaryk) 2013 and Architectural and Sculptural Composition “Student Community” at the square outside Central Ukrainian National Technical University (the sculptor – Volodymyr Tsysaryk) 2013. Participated in the development of the general plan town development and the projects of the planning of some districts, including the riverfront, Vokzalna Street, and others.
    Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko is the initiator of the development and renewal of heraldry in Ukraine, the author of the coat of arms and flag of the Kirovohrad Oblast, the author and co-author of the coats of arms, flags of the administrative districts and cities of oblast subordination of the Kirovohrad Oblast, as well as postmarks, jubilee coins, and other symbols. Is the author of many articles in the media on the issues of heraldry and vexillology, architecture and town planning. Is a co-author of the album and catalog “Symbols of the Kirovohrad Region” (2002) and the collection “Symbols of Administrative Districts and Cities of Oblast Subordination in the Kirovohrad Oblast” (2004).
    For the significant personal contribution to the state construction, social and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and educational development of Ukraine, significant professional achievements and high professionalism Merited Architect of Ukraine Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko was awarded the following awards and honors: Order of Merit of the 2nd and 3rd degree, Order of Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the 3rd degree, Certificate of Merit of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Distinctions of the Executive Committee of Kropyvnytskyi City Council for Merit of the 1st and 2nd degree, Certificates of Merit from the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, State Committee for Construction, Architecture, and Housing Policy of Ukraine, Kirovohrad Regional State Administration and Regional Council, Kropyvnytskyi City Council.