1 November 2026 marked the 90th anniversary of the birth of Yevhen Putri (1936–2021) — a renowned Poltava-based painter, graphic artist, sculptor, coin engraver and icon painter, and a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. To mark the anniversary, the Mykola Yaroshenko Poltava Art Museum (Art Gallery) hosted the ceremonial unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of the artist on the building’s façade, as well as the opening of a solo exhibition of his work.
For Poltava, the name Yevhen Putria is inextricably linked with the city’s artistic and museum life. The future artist was born in the Dnipropetrovsk region, but his family had lived in Poltava since 1937. It was here that his introduction to art began: Yevhen Putria received his early art education, in particular, from the renowned Poltava artist Pavlo Horobets, and later continued his studies at the Kharkiv Art College. Poltava became the city with which he associated his creative career and to which he devoted many years of fruitful artistic work.
His collaboration with museum institutions holds a special place in Yevhen's biography. As part of a group of artists, he took part in the creation and renewal of the exhibitions at the Ivan Kotliarevskyi Museum-Estate and the I. Kotliarevskyi Literary and Memorial Museum, the Panas Mirny and Volodymyr Korolenko Literary and Memorial Museums, the Poltava Battlefield State Historical and Cultural Reserve, as well as other museums in the Poltava region and beyond. This is precisely why his name is particularly dear to the city’s museum professionals: the fruits of his labour, creative vision and professional skill are preserved in many museum spaces.
Yevhen Putri’s artistic legacy is multifaceted. He worked in the fields of graphic art and metal sculpture, creating engraved compositions, portraits of prominent Ukrainians, medals, commemorative plaques, illustrations for literary works, theatre costumes and icons. His works include graphic series dedicated to Ivan Kotliarevskyi, works inspired by the writings of Mykola Gogol, and depictions of historical and cultural figures. For his significant contribution to the artistic life of the Poltava region, the artist was awarded the Samiilo Velychko, Panas Myrnyi and Mykola Yaroshenko prizes.
A distinct and deeply personal chapter in the artist’s life is linked to his daughter, Sashenka Putria (Oleksandra Putria, 1977–1989), a talented young artist whose name is known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. The girl began drawing at the age of three. In her eleven years of life, she created over two thousand works—drawings, portraits, caricatures, illustrations, poems and various creative compositions. Her vibrant artistic world was striking in its originality, imagination and sincerity. Sashenka’s life was cut short by a serious illness, but her art lives on, striking a chord in the hearts of people across the globe.
Yevhen was not only a father to his daughter, but also her first mentor – the person who introduced her to the world of art. After losing Sashenka, he preserved her creative legacy and dedicated his own works to her. The stories of father and daughter are forever intertwined in Poltava’s cultural memory — as the stories of two artists whose creative worlds, despite the young artist’s short life, left a lasting mark.
The unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the façade of the Art Museum served as a token of gratitude and respect for the artist, whose work remains on display in Poltava’s museum spaces to this day. And the solo exhibition of his works offers the opportunity to appreciate the richness of Yevhen Putria’s artistic legacy, to gain a deeper insight into his creative world, and to once again remember the man who left a significant mark on the history of art and culture in our city.
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