History of the Academy
The Academy’s origins date back to 1768, when “supplementary” classes, including a drawing class, were established at the Kharkiv Collegium. This essentially became the first state art school in the province, opening its doors just 11 years after the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, which was the only other art institution in the Russian Empire at that time.
In the early 19th century, the torch of art education was passed on to Kharkiv University, founded in 1805. The university and its founder, V. Karazin, played a pivotal role in promoting artistic knowledge across the Slobozhanshchyna region and throughout the southern part of the empire.
In 1869, M. Raevska-Ivanova’s private art school opened in Kharkiv as a separate educational institution. Reflecting Kharkiv’s transformation into a major industrial hub, the school adopted an industrial art focus. Over the course of 27 years, around 900 students graduated from the school. Beyond experts in applied arts, the school nurtured future masters of painting and architecture, including landscapists S. Vasylkivsky and M. Tkachenko, academician of architecture O. Beketov, and prominent members of the Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers) movement such as O. Vyezzhayev and K. Pervukhin. It was also here that P. Konchalovsky received his early art education.
Starting from 1896, M. Raevska-Ivanova’s school was reorganised into a municipal art school. The teaching staff included prominent graduates of the Academy, such as M. Pestrikov, M. Fedorov, and K. Pyneiev.
The year 1912 marked a long-awaited milestone: the opening of the Kharkiv Art College (subordinate to the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg). The college was headed by O. Liubimov, who had been personally recommended for the position by his mentor, the world-renowned I. Repin. O. Liubimov assembled a teaching staff from among the students of I. Repin and D. Kardovsky, including D. Titov, S. Prokhorov, G. Orlov, O. Kokel, and M. Fedorov.
The foundation of higher art education in Kharkiv was laid in 1921. From 1922 to 1925, the Kharkiv Higher Art Institute was headed by the sculptor B. Korotko. He was succeeded by the renowned Ukrainian landscape painter M. Burachek, who served as rector from 1925 to 1927. This distinguished lineage of artist-rectors was continued from 1927 to 1933 by I. Repin’s student A. Komashko. Until 1941, the institution was led by the art historian I. Avgust. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Institute employed esteemed scholars such as professors S. Taranushenko, D. Hordieiev, and L. Lenevych, along with renowned artists including A. Petrytsky, F. Krychevsky, H. Bondarenko, M. Samokysh, V. Kasiyan, V. Myronenko, B. Kosariev, M. Derehus, B. Blank, M. Fradkin, D. Ovcharenko, L. Kramarenko, and M. Kozyk. Plastic anatomy was taught by the distinguished academician V. Vorobiov.
During the Second World War, the Institute was evacuated to Samarkand.
Since 1943, the traditions of the Kharkiv Art School have been carried on by artists such as V. Agibalov, H. Tomenko, V. Sizikov, O. Khmelnytskyi, A. Konstantinopolsky, as well as Honoured Artists of Ukraine, professors Ye. Yegorov, L. Chernov, O. Martynets, V. Lozovyi, Ye. Zherdzytsky, S. Solodovnyk, O. Viatkin, I. Karas, and associate professors O. Kudryavtseva, I. Melgunova, P. Suponyn, Ye. Svytlychnyi, V. Vykhtynsky, M. Shaposhnykov, V. Volovyk, and I. Stakhanov. Between 1943 and 1948, the Kharkiv State Art Institute was headed by Rector S. Biesiedin.
In 1963, the Kharkiv State Art Institute was reorganised into the Kharkiv Art and Industrial Institute. This reform refocused the institution towards training industrial artists across two primary specialisations. Today, the Academy has evolved into a comprehensive institution offering nearly 30 academic and professional programmes.
From 1948 to 1972, M. Shaposhnykov held the position of rector at the Kharkiv Art and Industrial Institute.
From 1972 to 1985, the Institute was led by Professor Ye. Yegorov.
From 1985 to 1998, Professor V. Torkatyuk headed the Institute.
In 1989, a doctoral programme was established, followed by the formation of a Specialised Academic Council for the defence of PhD dissertations in 2002.
In 1992, an Art Lyceum with a two-year programme of study was opened at the Institute.
Preparatory courses for applicants and a Faculty of Advanced Training for Designers also began to operate.
In August 2001, by Decree No. 364-r of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts (KSADA) was established on the basis of the Kharkiv Art and Industrial Institute. The Academy was granted the highest, IV level of accreditation.
In 1999, Professor and Academician V. Danylenko was appointed Rector of the Academy. Since January 2021, the position of rector has been held by Professor O. Sobolev, a prominent graphic designer and Candidate of Art History (PhD).
Almost 1 350 students study across the Academy’s four faculties, including international students from 12 countries.
The educational, methodological, scientific and creative work at the Academy’s 17 departments is carried out by almost 100 academic staff members, including 15 professors and 54 associate professors. Among the staff, 21 members hold honorary titles, while 2 are full members (academicians) and 4 are corresponding members of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. Nearly half of the teaching staff are members of the National Union of Artists and the Union of Designers of Ukraine.
Graduates of the Academy contribute their expertise across a wide range of industries, working in design agencies, commercial firms, industrial associations, and cultural organisations, as well as in higher and secondary specialised educational institutions.
The Academy trains highly qualified specialists across various fields of artistic creativity, including easel painting, easel and book graphics, poster art, monumental and decorative painting and stained glass, architectural and decorative sculpture, and the restoration of artworks.
