Mykola Lebid

Mykola Lebid (Ukrainian: Микола Якович Лебідь, Russian: Николай Яковлевич Лебедь, 5 May 1936 - 29 March 2007) — Ukrainian painter, graphic artist, designer, Honored Artist of Ukraine, professor. Known for watercolor paintings, graphics, design, medal art. Nikolai Ostrovsky Premium winner (1986).

Mykola Lebid was born on 5 May 1936 in small village of Kustine, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine). Father - Yakiv Lebid (1896-1947) was a railroad worker, fought in the Red Army during World War II, was wounded and died shortly after the war ended. Mother - Eudokia Lebid (Radchenko) (1898-19??). The family had six children. Two older brothers died during the Holodomor of the 1930s. The elder brother Danilo Lebid, went missing in November 1943. Prior to that he was awarded two medals "For Courage". After the war, the older sisters Galina, Maria and the youngest Mykola lived with their mother.

Following his education at the Leningrad Vera Mukhina Higher School of Art and Design (1963), Mykola Lebid worked as an art-designer of the "Ukrdipromebli" Institute and the Institute of Technical Aesthetics in Kyiv (1964-1967). Was a chief artist of the "Ukrtorgreklama" (1966-1973). In 1967 became a member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine. An author of the Khreshchatyk street holiday lighting (1967-1977). Mykola Lebid created a series of lamps for public institutions; musical instruments for Chernihiv and Zhytomyr musical factories (in particular, the famous piano "Ukraine"); children's wooden toys and souvenirs, which were produced in the 1960-1970s at the Chernihiv and Kiev factories. Mykola Lebid is an author of cutlery made of gold and silver, souvenirs made by the "Ukrsamotsvity" jewelry factory, watch design, filmoscopes, loudspeakers, and other household products. They are copyrighted and produced since the 1970s, some were produced up to the 2000s.

Since the 1980s, Mykola Lebid has been engaged in environmental and landscape design. Comprehensive presentation of Ukraine at the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow, 1985 (M. Ostrovsky Prize, 1986). Small architectural forms and history museum in Varva (1986-1990). Memorial "Defenders of the Motherland" in Borova (1987). Belgorod Central Park (Russia, 1988), ukrainian-russian restaurant in Dubai (UAE, 1996), etc.

In the field of graphics, M. Lebid developed the corporate style of the "Science" club of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (1980-1983). He is an author of series of commemorative medals and badges for Kiev radio plant "Slavutich" (1982-1989). In 1992 Mykola Lebid received the honorary title of Honored Artist of Ukraine. In 1999 in tight competition M. Lebid became the author of the state award Order "For Courage" and about twenty departmental awards. In 1999 he was nominated for the honorary title of People's Artist of Ukraine.

Watercolor paintings of Mykola Lebid are among the best created in this technique by contemporary artists. Are written alla prima, extremely transparent, passionate and at the same time are in logical design, rhythm and composition. Both in painting and in design Mykola Lebid does not copy the objects of nature, but expresses the regularities by all means available. Watercolor paintings were exhibited at numerous personal and group exhibitions. Paintings by M. Lebid can be found in private collections throughout the USA, United Kingdom, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Russia and others.

During last years of life, Mykola Lebid passed on his skills to students of the Institute of Interior Design and Landscape (National Academy of Government Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts). He died at his home in Kiev on 29 March 2007, surrounded by his family.

• a series of watercolor paintings in own exquisite technique. Рainted throughout his life
• musical instruments for the Chernihiv and Zhytomyr music factories, including the famous piano "Ukraine" (1966-68);
• holiday lighting design of Khreshchatyk (1967-77);
• children wooden toys (1968-71);
• souvenirs "1500 years of Kyiv", inlay with straw (1973);
• cutlery of gold and silver (1974);
• souvenirs for the "Ukrainian Gems" factory (1975);
• electronic digital clocks, two F-7 film projectors, three household speakers (all co-author), a Stop-Test device (awarded by the USSR Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy medal), a portable tourist gas tile (all 1976–79);
• socio-cultural complex of Ukraine in 12th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow (1985, co-author, diploma, M. Ostrovsky Prize 1986);
• a memorial "Defenders of the Motherland" (Borova 1987);
• Lenin Park (1987) and Children's playground (1988; Belgorod, Russian Federation);
• a series of commemorative medals and badges (1982-89);
• decoration of ukrainian-russian restaurant in Dubai (UAE, 1996);
• graphics - "Old Tallinn" (1965), "Flowering Time" (1966), "Rus" (1967), "Begonia" (1980), "Morning in the Mountains" (1983) etc.;

• Order "For Courage", 3 classes (1995, State Award of Ukraine)
• Honorary award of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (1995, Ministry of Internal Affairs)
• Honorary award "For achievment"(1995, Ministry of Internal Affairs)
• Honorary award "The best fire brigade worker" (1995, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine)
• Honorary award "Security Service of Ukraine" (1996, Security Service of Ukraine)
• Honorary award "Cross of Glory" (1997, Ministry of Internal Affairs)
• Honorary award "Honorary Border Guard of Ukraine", logo, souvenirs (1997, State Border Guard Service)
• Honorary jubilee award of the Supreme Arbitration Court of Ukraine (2001, Supreme Arbitration Court of Ukraine)
• Medal "For courage in protecting the state border of Ukraine" (2000, State Border Guard Service)
• Medal "For Impeccable Service", 4 classes(2002, State Border Guard Service)
• Peacekeeping Medal (2003, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defence)

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  Order "For Courage" 1st class

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  Star of the Order "For Courage", 1st class

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  "Cross of Glory"

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  "Honorary Border Guard of Ukraine"

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  Peacekeeping Medal

• Селівачов М. // Микола Лебідь: акварель, дизайн, геральдика - К.: ВХ [Студіо], 2006. — 48 c., іл. (in Ukrainian)
• Селівачов М. Микола Лебідь // Ант. Вип. 16-18. — К., 2006. — С.107 (in Ukrainian)
• Mykola Lebid // Contempo Art Ukraine. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Studios — Ukraine, Contempoartukraine, 2004, #3 — p.28-33 (in English)
• Довідник членів Національної спілки художників України - К., 2003. С.189 (in Ukrainian)
• Довідник членів Спілки художників України - К., 1998. С.83 (in Ukrainian)
• Нерод В. Автор почетных знаков отличия и наград // День. - 1997. - 5 апреля. (in Russian)
• Куфрік Б. Як народжуються державні нагороди // Експрес. 1997. 3-11 травня. (in Ukrainian)
• Бузало В. Відзнаки особливого ґатунку // Міліція України. - 1997, Січень. (in Ukrainian)
• Пацера М. Остепеняются и множатся президентские награды // Киевские ведомости. - 1996. - 24 мая. (in Russian)
• Нагороди України. Збірка в 3-х томах. Історія, факти, документи. - К., 1996. (in Ukrainian)
• Бузало В. Нагороди незалежної України // Українська газета. - 1996. - 1 лютого. (in Ukrainian)
• Пам’ятки України. Спеціальний випуск на замовлення Президента України. 1995. № 2. (in Ukrainian)
• Куценко В. Нет ордена в своем отечестве // Киевские ведомости. - 1995. - 27 апреля (in Russian)
• Чеберяко Н. І на тім рушничкові // Вечірній Київ. - 1986. - 9 листопада. (in Ukrainian)
• Шуйская Галина. Приглашает рушничок // Правда (Москва). - 1985. - 25 июня (in Russian)
• Петруня О. Рушник запрошує гостей // Прапор комунізму (Київ). - 1985. - 28 липня. (in Ukrainian)
• Довідник «Українські радянські художники» - К., Мистецтво, 1972. С.256 (in Ukrainian)

• @mykola.lebid.art - official Instagram page, run by the artist’s family
• @Mykola.Lebid.Art- official Facebook page, run by the artist’s family
• Encyclopedia of modern Ukraine (in Ukrainian)
• Encyclopedia "Kyiv and the regions. Who is Who 2004-2005. VI issue" - Kyiv 2005 (in Ukrainian)