The World of Olga Rapai: A Special Edition of Antiquary Offers a New Perspective on the Artist’s Legacy
On August 21, 2023, Antiquary published its 130th issue, devoted to one of the most striking figures of twentieth-century Ukrainian art — Olga Rapai-Markish. Far more than a themed release, this edition presents a comprehensive exploration of the artist’s life and creative path, showcasing ceramics that embody both the depth of Ukraine’s cultural code and the aesthetics of European modernism.
The title, The World of Olga Rapai, is fitting: her work is rooted in imagery, metaphor, and mythology. From monumental panels and decorative sculpture to fine porcelain, Rapai built a distinctive visual universe — one where women embody goddesses, fairy tales dissolve into reality, and clay itself becomes a living, emotional medium.
The issue brings together analytical essays, scholarly studies, archival documents, family recollections, and rare photographs — many published for the first time. Contributors include Ukrainian and international art historians, curators, researchers, and members of the artist’s family.
A central feature of the issue focuses on the restoration, attribution, and retrospective study of Rapai-Markish’s monumental ceramic panels from the Bratislava Hotel in Kyiv. Long believed lost, these works were brought back into public view thanks to the efforts of a restoration team from AMEOR (The Association of Art Critics, Experts, Valuation Specialists and Restorers).
This 130th issue was published as part of the larger cultural initiative The Power of Fragility, aimed at promoting Rapai’s legacy through exhibitions, educational programs, and museum activities. It serves not only as a magazine but as a kind of archival almanac — perhaps the first systematic attempt to present Rapai-Markish’s vast artistic heritage within a broad cultural context, bridging aesthetics and ethics.
