On May 21, 2021, an exhibition “First of all is an Artist: Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Works of Merited Architect of Ukraine Vitalii Kryvenko” was opened in O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum. The exhibition was dedicated to the commemoration day of Merited Architect of Ukraine, a citizen of honor of Kirovohrad, now Kropyvnytskyi, Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko. Also, a catalog of the exhibition was 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 more than 70 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.
    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 of more than 50 projects of constructions of the social and cultural sphere, monuments and municipal improvement objects in Kropyvnytskyi. The initiator of the development and renewal of heraldry in Ukraine, the author of the coat of arms and flag 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). Was awarded orders and awards 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.
    Architects, heraldists, local history experts, public officials who worked with Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko came to the presentation of the exhibition. But the presented exhibition of his visual art works has become a real discovery for many of them. Everyone was impressed by the photo chronicles of Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko’s life starting from his childhood, student years, successful career as an architect, and the video interview with him in the museum at the event on the occasion of the awarding of the Regional Award named after Yakiv Pauchenko in the nomination “heraldry and vexillology” in 2018. The materials were prepared by the museum scientists. The photos of Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko were demonstrated to the musical accompaniment by the student of Kropyvnytskyi Music College Kateryna Misko. She emotionally performed prickling composition Adagio flebile by Niccolo Paganini to the piano accompaniment by Svitlana Kontsedalova.
    The secretary of Kirovohrad City Council Oleh Koliuka, the first deputy head of Kirovohrad Regional Council Yurii Semeniuk, director of TOV “Design and Research Institute “Ahroproyekt”, Merited Constructor of Ukraine Petro Dovchenko, head of the Regional Department of Ukrainian Heraldry Union, Ph.D. in History Oleksandr Chornyi, head of the Department of Regional Development, Town Planning, and Architecture of Kirovohrad Regional State Administration Viktoriia Kulikova, and members of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine Iryna Kukharenko and Tetiana Peniaz, who started their professional career under the supervision of V.Ye.Kryvenko, deputy chief editor of the all-Ukrainian weekly newspaper “Ukraina-tsentr” Olena Nikitina, who prepared the architect’s memoirs in the paper “Ukraina-tsentr” No.15 (1426) – 18 (1429), April 16 – May 6, 2021, head of the Department of Scientific and Educational Work of the Museum of Arts Oleh Yurchenko, and the curators of the exhibition, compiler of the catalog, leading researcher of the museum, Merited Artist of Ukraine Andrii Nadezhdin shared their memories about the creative work with Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko.
    The host of the evening was the museum director Vita Chernova. She told about the special attitude of Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko to the museum because he was at the origins of its creation and communicated with the widow of the artist Nadiia Heorhiivna Osmerkina.
    The widow of the architect Liudmyla Ivanivna Kryvenko addressed the organizers of the exhibition and everyone present with the most heartfelt thanks. By the way, she is a famous master of art quilling, a laureate of the Regional Award in Architecture, heraldry, Vexillology, Decorative and Applied Arts named after Yakiv Pauchenko in the nomination “decorative and applied arts” (2019). She also suggested the memorial lottery special during which she presented the owners of two lucky numbers seven paintings of Vitalii Yefremovych Kryvenko for the memory of the talented artist.