Biography
Petro Oleksiyovych Malyshko (1941, village of Znamenivka, Dnipropetrovsk region – 2020, Kyiv) was a painter, graphic artist, and sculptor. Brother of the artist Mykola Malyshko.
1963 – Graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Art School.
1966–1990 – Monumental artist at the Kyiv Creative and Production Works. Worked independently as a full-time artist.
From 1966 – Participated in art exhibitions.
1974 – Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
In the 1980s – Member of the Pohliad [Sight/Look] artistic association.
From 1992 – Belonged to the Brotherhood of Saint Alipy artistic association.
1999–2000 – Participated in painting the restored St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv.
2003 – Awarded an incentive prize and the Grand Medal of Honor at the International Ex Libris Competition in Italy, dedicated to the work of the world-renowned High Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci.
2009 – Honored Artist of Ukraine.
Lived and worked in Kyiv.
“Even in his early period of creativity, Petro Malyshko stepped beyond the seductive mirages of stereotypes. His pursuits lay in the realm of eternal artistic values: good versus evil, love versus hatred, the contemplation of beauty and its reflection… These vectors of self-expression were characteristic of the artist’s painting, sculpture, and graphic arts. Yet, the defining axis of his oeuvre remains his spiritual rootedness in national history and culture. Like a true philosopher and humanist poet, he does not merely record the events of a dramatic past, painful losses, and bitter disappointments of his people; rather, he attempts to visualize those turbulent currents pulsing in the national consciousness today, which will sprout life-affirming shoots tomorrow,” (Art-Kathedra Gallery, Lutsk).
The artist noted that he belonged to those creators who “base their work on the achievements of world art, as well as on the traditions of the thousand-year history of Ukrainian national culture.” Overall, his artistic output is distinguished by authenticity and profound philosophical meaning. His painting and sculpture form an integrated, highly individual artistic and coloristic system.
