On 15 October 2026 at 14:00, the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine will open the exhibition ‘Performative Art: Circus’ at its premises in Kyiv (20 Bulvarno-Kudriavska Street). Initiated by the National Circus of Ukraine to mark the Academy’s 30th anniversary, the project brings together circus history, works by Ukrainian artists, performers’ costumes and props, and live performances.
Running until 23 November, the exhibition invites visitors to see circus not simply as entertainment, but as an art form with its own history, schools of practice and visual language. It explores how acrobatics, choreography, directing, music, costume and scenography come together in a circus production.
Why the National Academy of Arts is exhibiting circus
In the Academy’s exhibition spaces, circus arts will be presented alongside visual art and historical heritage. The project is a collaboration between two national institutions seeking to draw attention to the artistic significance of circus and the importance of preserving its traditions.
“Art is not confined to a painter’s canvas, a theatre stage or a concert hall. Circus has its own aesthetics, artistic schools and traditions, and occupies a place in art and culture in its own right. It combines technical excellence with imagery, movement with dramatic structure, and skill with emotional impact. For the Academy, it is important to present this richness, particularly in our 30th-anniversary year, and to demonstrate how circus arts interact with other forms of creativity.”
Viktor Sydorenko, President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Academician and People’s Artist of Ukraine
What visitors will see — and when live performances take place
The exhibits will include material from circus history, stage costumes and props used by prominent performers, works by Ukrainian artists and a scale model of a traditional travelling circus tent, or big top. Together, the objects and images reveal what an audience rarely sees during a show: the work of performers, artists, directors and technical specialists.
Live circus performances will be an integral part of the programme. On Thursdays and Fridays, guided tours will run from 16:00 to 17:00, followed by performances from 17:00 to 17:30. Visitors will be able not only to examine the history of circus through objects, but also to experience it through movement and live performance.
“A circus act is not simply a collection of difficult tricks. It is a staged work with dramatic structure, music, a directorial concept and an artistic image. Technical mastery is captivating, but art comes into being when the audience feels an emotion and a story behind it. A live performance allows people to experience this quality of circus directly, rather than merely read about it.”
Veronika Humarova, Chief Director of the National Circus of Ukraine and an Honoured Artist of Ukraine
How Ukrainian visual artists have interpreted the circus ring
The exhibition will feature works exploring circus arts by Andrii Chebykin, Yurii Vakulenko, Albert Feldman and Nataliia Lopukhova. The circus ring has long attracted artists through the tension of movement, theatrical lighting, costumes and the expressiveness of the human body. A fleeting moment in a performance takes on a different sense of time when captured in painting or graphic art.
The exhibition approaches circus as a space for artistic experimentation. Its aesthetics resonate beyond painting — in literature, theatre, ballet and other forms of art. One of the project’s central ideas is to make these connections visible.
“Since the late nineteenth century, circus has been one of the most attractive fields for creative exploration among artists working in very different areas — from literature, painting and sculpture to performing forms such as theatre and ballet, and later cinema. This is no coincidence: of the traditional forms that synthesise different arts, circus has been, and remains, exceptionally open to experimentation. It is therefore hardly surprising that the theme of circus can be traced, directly or indirectly, in the work of many avant-garde artists.”
Illia Pavelets, Chief Artist of the National Circus of Ukraine
From travelling big tops to Kyiv’s ‘Equestrian Palace’
One of the exhibits is a scale model of a traditional travelling circus tent. It shows how such a structure works — from the ring and audience seating to the supporting framework and tensioning ropes. The model helps tell the story of the circus’s evolution from travelling venues to large permanent buildings.
An important chapter in Kyiv’s circus history is Krutikov’s ‘Equestrian Palace’ (Kinnyi Palats). Built in the early twentieth century on what is now Architect Horodetsky Street, it was designed by Eduard Bradtman. With its spacious domed auditorium, electric lighting and seating for around 2,000 spectators, it was technologically advanced for its time.
The exhibition’s closing date has a historical significance. According to the National Circus of Ukraine’s chronology, the Equestrian Palace opened on 23 November 1903. Ending the exhibition on 23 November 2026 is therefore a symbolic tribute to this part of Kyiv’s urban and cultural history.
Preserving the memory of Ukrainian circus artists
For the National Circus of Ukraine, participation in the exhibition extends its work beyond creating performances in the ring. The institution supports professional circus training and emerging artists while working to preserve its historical and cultural heritage. Museum and educational initiatives help pass the experience of earlier generations to those who follow.
“Audiences usually see the finished act, but behind a few minutes in the ring are years of work and an entire system of creative professions. The National Circus of Ukraine is responsible not only for the quality of today’s performances, but also for preserving the history, experience and memory of the Ukrainian circus tradition. Our collaboration with the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine allows us to present circus in a broader cultural context. And closing the exhibition on the anniversary of the opening of the ‘Equestrian Palace’ is another reminder of how deep the history of our art runs.”
Vladyslav Korniienko, Director-General of the National Circus of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine and Doctor of Cultural Studies
Working with the Academy expands the ways in which the story of circus can be told. Live performance is placed alongside documentary history, architecture, works of art and tangible evidence of performers’ professional lives. Together, these perspectives show circus as part of Ukraine’s cultural memory.
‘Performative Art: Circus’ runs from 15 October to 23 November 2026 at the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, 20 Bulvarno-Kudriavska Street, Kyiv. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday. Guided tours take place every Thursday and Friday at 16:00, followed by live circus performances at 17:00. Admission is free.
Main image: A performance by the National Circus of Ukraine's ballet company | Photo: National Circus of Ukraine archive
This post was last modified on October 25, 2026 1:37 pm