Oksana Zhnykrup's Ballerinas — 24 Author Figurines from the Family Archive
The museum received from the family of sculptor Oksana Zhnykrup (1931-1993) a complete collection of her author porcelain ballerinas of the 1965-1985 period — the most famous series of Ukrainian figurative ceramic plastic art.
In November 2025 the Kyiv Porcelain Museum received in its collection twenty-four author porcelain figurines of ballerinas by Oksana Zhnykrup (1931-1993) — the leading Ukrainian sculptor of the KEKHZ era. The transfer was made by the master's daughter, who had kept the family archive. The figurines were created during 1965-1985 and represent the author's series that made Zhnykrup the most recognisable Ukrainian porcelain sculptor of her time.
The series covers various ballet positions: arabesque, attitude, deep bow, static portrait figures. All figurines are executed in Zhnykrup's author technique — thin-walled porcelain with underglaze painting in gentle pastel tones (pink, blue, lemon), with gilded details. Alongside the ballerinas in the archive are several fairy-tale compositions based on Taras Shevchenko ('Kateryna', 'Perebendia') and Lesya Ukrainka ('Forest Song'). The exhibition of the new acquisition will open in January 2026 as the central event of the season.
