The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, Kyiv

When this building was under construction, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of a late-11th-century church — most likely the Symeon Monastery, founded by a grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. Which means that future artists here walk quite literally on a thousand years of Kyiv’s history.

The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture on Voznesenskyi Uzviz is one of those places where every layer has its own drama: an ancient Rus monastery, a theological seminary, a barracks of the Sich Riflemen (Сечові стрільці — a national military corps of the Ukrainian Revolution era), and finally, the cradle of modern Ukrainian art.

Location Card

In this article

1. What it is and why visitors come here
2. History: monastery, seminary, academy
3. Names and legends
4. What to see nearby
5. Getting there
6. Traveller’s checklist
7. Frequently asked questions

What it is and why visitors come here

NAOMA is Ukraine’s premier fine arts university, the direct heir to the Ukrainian Academy of Art established in 1917. In plain terms: this is the place that gave the world much of what we now call 20th-century Ukrainian art.

People come for two reasons. First, for the building itself — a striking red-brick former seminary that is a listed architectural monument in its own right. Second, for the atmosphere: this is a living arts space with students, easels, exhibitions, and that intangible creative energy you simply can’t fake.

The location fits naturally into a historic Kyiv walk — Podil, Andriivskyi Uzviz, and the Kudriavets neighbourhood are all within easy reach.

History: monastery, seminary, academy

A thousand years under one roof

Chronicles mention this spot as early as 1121, under the name Kopyriv Kinets. During the construction of the seminary, builders unearthed the foundations of a late-11th-century church — most likely the Symeon Monastery. In the 17th century, Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky granted these lands to the Kyiv Metropolitan, and a wooden Ascension Church here gave the street its name.

The current building was erected in 1899–1901 for the Kyiv Theological Seminary — in an expressive brick style, designed by architects Yevhen Morozov and Yevhen Yermakov.

Seminarians, riflemen, artists

In 1918–1919, the building was quartered by the Sich Riflemen — the corps commanded by Yevhen Konovalets and Andrii Melnyk. From 1925 onward, the building became the permanent home of an art institute, the successor to the Ukrainian Academy of Art founded in 1917.

The 1917 Academy was founded by Mykhailo Hrushevsky, head of the Central Rada, together with a constellation of artists: the Krychevsky brothers, Boichuk, Murashko, Narbut, and Burachek.

The Executed Renaissance

The 1920s were the academy’s golden age, but the 1930s brought tragedy. Soviet repressions swept away an entire artistic school: Mykhailo Boichuk was executed along with his wife Sofiia Nalепynska-Boichuk and students Vasyl Sedliar and Ivan Padalka. With them died one of the most original movements in Ukrainian art — Boichukism.

Names and legends

A place with this kind of history is bound to accumulate stories — and the real figures here are every bit as vivid as any mythology.

1. The professor who forbade marriage

Mykhailo Boichuk reportedly demanded total dedication to art from his students — to the point of discouraging them from marrying. His school functioned almost like a monastic order: shared labour, a shared style, a shared fate that ultimately proved to be a shared tragedy.

2. A temple underfoot

Students like to say that the remains of an ancient Rus church still lie beneath the building — and this isn’t entirely legend: the archaeological find of 11th-century foundations is well documented. Hence the romantic notion that art is taught here on genuinely sacred ground.

What to see nearby

The academy building itself. The brick facade of the former seminary is a fine example of Kyiv’s turn-of-the-century architecture. Best appreciated from the street, looking up from the uzviz.

Voznesenskyi Uzviz and Kudriavets. An atmospheric old neighbourhood of steep lanes and sweeping views — perfect for a slow, unhurried walk.

Podil and Andriivskyi Uzviz. A few minutes away lies Kyiv’s historic heart, with galleries, cafes and craft shops. A natural extension of any route here.

Student exhibitions. From time to time the academy opens its doors to the public — keep an eye on announcements if you want to see the interior.

Getting there

Metro. The nearest stations are «Kontraktova Ploshcha» or «Zoloti Vorota», then on foot uphill to Voznesenskyi Uzviz. It’s a short but steep walk.

By car. The address is Voznesenskyi Uzviz, 20. Parking in the old neighbourhood is tricky — better to leave the car near Podil.

On foot. The most enjoyable option: arrive as part of a broader walk through Podil and Kudriavets, combining it with Andriivskyi Uzviz.

Traveller’s checklist

Things to keep in mind:

• Comfortable shoes: the neighbourhood has hills and cobblestones.
• Camera: the facade and the views from the uzviz are worth the shot.
• Check for exhibition listings: to see the interior rather than just the outside.
• Allow time for Podil: just photographing the academy and leaving would be a missed opportunity.

What NOT to do: enter the academic buildings without permission — this is an active university, not a museum with open-door access.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the academy?

It is an active university with no general public access. However, during open exhibitions and events the space can be seen from the inside — check NAOMA’s announcements.

What was in the building before the academy?

The Kyiv Theological Seminary, built in 1899–1901. Before that, an ancient Rus monastery stood on the site — its foundations were discovered during construction.

Who founded the academy?

The Ukrainian Academy of Art was established in 1917 with the involvement of Mykhailo Hrushevsky and leading artists including the Krychevsky brothers, Boichuk, Murashko, Narbut and others.

How much time should I allow?

The exterior takes about half an hour, but the ideal is to combine it with a half-day walk through Podil and Andriivskyi Uzviz.

The academy on Voznesenskyi Uzviz is Ukraine’s history in a single building. People have prayed here, drilled here, painted here, and died for their convictions here — all on one patch of ground where a thousand-year-old church once stood.

The next time you see the credit «graduate of the Kyiv Academy of Arts» under a significant painting — know that it all started right here, on a steep lane above Podil.