Exhibitions | CARTOON GALLERY

OLEKSIY KUSTOVSKY

REPRESENTATIVE EXHIBITION OF EXCEPTIONAL CARTOONIST

FROM UKRAINE

If we play a well-known game on associations of ideas, the first words that might come to our mind when hearing the name of the Ukrainian cartoonist Oleksiy Kustovsky could be: sensitivity, perceptiveness, empathy, precision, cleanliness.

Despite his original profession of a grower of fruits in the botanical garden, he very soon could not resist the voice of his heart and talent and moved to a completely different garden, to a garden of fine art delights, where under his skillful hands have ripened wonderful fruits of cartoon art. Inspite of his unprecedented success and the huge amount of laurels which he in a short time gained in international cartoon competitions all around the world, Oleksiy Kustovsky remained exceptionally modest man, without any signs of narcissism.

As the experts say a drawing is like a radiograph of personality of its author. The drawing by Oleksiy Kustovky is revealing us a man responsible and demanding to himself, who despite his great talent is willing constantly working on himself and still perfecting his extraordinary abilities. A man extremely perceptive and sensitive, able to see deeply beneath the surface of things. An artist with a strong graphical feeling and precise handwriting. His artistic talent highly exceeds above any mediocrity – his dominant discipline is a pen drawing, by minutely detailed technique refined almost to absolute perfection.

Of course, in the current historical reality of a very difficult period experienced by his country, he must react, and he is always ready to pronounce his clear position. A major part of his work of art, however, is not only focused on the ephemeral topicality, but he takes full advantage of his ability to creatively express common principles of existence of the world and man, and to unmistakably diagnose any transgressions against them. But he is certainly not a cheap moralist, he successfully avoids from giving ethical lessons to anyone. With grace and understanding he perceives everyday weaknesses of human beings, but he is uncompromising to any violence, vulgarity, weakness of character and heartlessness. Artworks by Oleksiy Kustovsky never lacks the poetry and strong idea with timeless validity. He is not only high quality artist, but also a philosopher, psychologist, and especially a poet of image.

Oleksiy Kustovsky is undoubtedly a dignified partner and successor of the great personalities of Ukrainian cartooning and he currently belongs to the brightest stars of the European Cartoonists’ scene.

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Let us introduce you at least a brief professional biography of this exceptional artist:

Oleksiy Kustovsky was born on 11th March 1971 in Kyiv, Ukraine. He graduated at the National Agricultural University in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1993, specialization – agronomist. Then he started working as a fruit grower in M.M. Grishko Central Botanical Garden of the National Ukranian Academy of Sciences.

His first cartoon appeared in the newspaper „Vechernie Vesti“ (Kyiv) in 1998 and since that time his artworks have been published in newspapers and magazines in many countries (Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Sweden, The Nederlands, etc). Since 2004 Oleksiy Kustovsky works as an artist of parliamentary newspaper “Holos Ukrainy” concentrated mainly to creation of cartoons and illustration. He presented his artworks at several exhibitions at home and abroad. In 2010 he took part in the collective exhibition in Pisek (Czech Republic).

Since 2003 Oleksiy Kustovsky participates at a number of international cartoon competitions and up to now his artworks have been awarded 136 prizes (see below). He is often invited to be a member of Juries of international cartoon contests (2005 – “LM”, China; 2010 – „Clear look“ Russia; 2010, 2011, 2012 – „Jaka bede“, Poland; 2012- „Nasreddin Hodja“ Turkey; 2013 – Salon Romania). He is a member of the Association of Cartoonists of Ukraine and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

Oleksiy Kustovsky is living and working in Vyshneve (Kyiv region), Ukraine.

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Oleksiy Kustovsky – International prizes (136):

2003 – Gold Prize / LM International Cartoon Exhibition (China) [1]
2004 – Honorable Mention “Selected Prize” / Seoul World Cartoon Contest (Korea) [2]
2004 – First Prize / International Cartoon Contest “Elections to Ukraine – 2004” (Russia) [3]
2005 – Second Prize / International Pet humor Competition (China) [4]
2005 – Honorable Mention “Winning Prize” / Syria International Cartoon Contest (Syria) [5]
2005 – Honorable Mention / International Cartoon Contest – Kozuchow (Poland) [6]
2005 – Honorable Mention / BIRD2005 International Art Award (China) [7]
2005 – Award of the City of Pitesti (Romania) / XIII International Antiwar Cartoon Contest “Kragujevac 2005” (Serbia & Montenegro) [8]
2005 – Excellent Prize / 2nd WINE International Invitation Cartoon Exhibition (China) [9]
2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 – Honorable Mention / DICACO 2005 -14th Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [10, 11, 12, 13]
2006 – Special Prize / VII International Festival of aphorism and caricature – Strumica (Macedonia) [14]
2006 – Second Prize / Sixth International Cartoon Contest Independence (Ukraine) [15]
2006 – Excellency Prize / International Festival Caragiale 2006 (Romania) [16]
2006 – Third Prize / Second Graphic Humorous Contest “Fra’ Diavolo” (Italy) [17]
2006 – Honorable Mention / Urziceni 1st International Cartoon Competition (Romania) [18]
2006 – Honorable Mention / Second Baku International Cartoon Contest 2006 (Azerbaijan) [19]
2006, 2010 – Best Cartoon Prize / DICACO 2006 -15th Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [20, 21]
2007 – Honorable Mention / 2nd International DON QUICHOTTE Cartoon Contest (Germany) [22]
2007 – Silver plaque / 1st International exhibition of art cartoons Ankara (Turkey) [23]
2007, 2009, 2010 – Honorable Mention / V International Cartoon Contest “KARPIK 2007” Poland [24, 25, 26]
2007 – Honorable Mention / Black Cat International Web Cartoon Contest 2007 (Azerbaijan) [27]
2007 – Third Prize / 2nd International Cartoon Contest, Braila 2007 (Romania) [28]
2008 – First Prize (nomination – caricature) / III International Festival “MOON CAT 2008” Lloret de Mar (Spain) [29]
2008 – Mention / Corum Journalists’ Association / 2nd Cartoon Competition Corum (Turkey) [30]
2008 – Excellent Prize / 2nd “RED MAN” International Cartoon Humour Competition (China) [31]
2008 – Special Prize / 13th International Cartoon Exhibition Zagreb 2008 (Croatia) [32]
2008, 2009 – Prize of the False Mirror Gallery / 10th International Cartoon Contest “DEBUT” Zielona Gora 2008 (Poland) [33, 34]
2008 – Honorable Mention / The International Cartoon Festival «CLEAR LOOK» (Belgorod, Russia) [35]
2008 – Honorable Mention / Urziceni Cartoon Competition “Freedom is not for free” (Romania) [36]
2008 – First Prize / Nature & Man Cartoon Contest “Drought & Water” (Turkey) [37]
2008 – Special Prize / The World Festival of Humour – “DICTATORSHIP OF LAUGHTER” (Romania) [38]
2009 – Special Prize / 15th International Cartoon Humour Competition on the Topic of BEER: GOLDEN KEG 2009 – Presov (Slovakia) [39]
2009 – First Prize / International competition on drawing for women – “Jaka bede..” 2009 Olsztyn (Poland ) [40]
2009 – Special Prize of the Ruse Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior / 1st International Cartoon Competition “Together for Security and Peace” Ruse (Bulgaria) [41]
2009 – Special Prize of Gabrovo Planet Society / International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts – Gabrovo 2009 (Bulgaria) [42]
2009 – Honorable Mention / International Cartoon Contest Odessa 2009 “Tourism & Travel” (Ukraine) [43]
2009 – Honorable Mention / 5th International Biennial “Masters of Caricature” Plovdiv (Bulgaria) [44]
2009 – Honorable Mention / Cartoon Contest “Climate Change?!” Ruse (Bulgaria) [45]
2010 – Honorable Mention / 16th International Cartoon Humour Competition on the Topic of BEER: GOLDEN KEG 2010 – Presov (Slovakia) [46]
2010 – Special Prize / IV “NOSOROG’s” magazine cartoon competition Banja Luka (Republika Srpska) [47]
2010 – Gold Prize / 3rd “Molla Nasreddin 2010” International Cartoon Contest (Azerbaijan) [48]
2010 – The Prize “MUSSEL 2010” / The 2nd International Cartoon Contest “Mussel & Fish 2010” (Bulgaria) [49]
2010 – “Salt & Pepper Magazine” Prize / International Salt & Pepper Satirical Art Salon Bucharest (Romania) [50]
2010 – Second Prize / 2nd International Tourism Cartoon Contest Istanbul – Eskişehir (Turkey) [51]
2010 – Selected Prize / “RED MAN” International Cartoon Competition Beijing (China) [52]
2011 – Third Prize / V “NOSOROG’S” magazine cartoon competition Banja Luka (Republika Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina) [53]
2011 – Honorable diploma / V “NOSOROG’S” magazine cartoon competition Banja Luka (Republika Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina) [54]
2011 – Honorable Mention / 17th International Cartoon Humour Competition on the Topic of BEER: GOLDEN KEG 2011 Presov (Slovakia) [55]
2011 – Third Prize / The Big Encyclopedia of caricature CARTOONIA – Web Cartoon Contest “Anti-terror” Marbella (Spain) [56]
2011 – Special Prize / 2nd International Cartoon Competition Berlin 2011 (Germany) [57]
2011 – The special prize of jury meeting – Copper Panda Medal / The 1st Gold Panda International Cartoon and Illustration Competition Beijing (China) [58]
2011 – Special Prize / International cartoon contest Volunteering Ruse (Bulgaria) [59]
2011-2012 – The 3rd Prize “Black Fox in Bronze Ushanka”/ The International Forum of Visual Humor KARIKATURUM 6 Surgut 2011-2012 (Russia) [60]
2011 – Second Prize / 3rd P.C.RATH Memorial International Web Cartoon Contest 2011 Bolangir (India) [61]
2011 – Special Prize / XIII International Cartoon Contest “Debut” Zielona Gora (Poland) [62]
2011 – Special Prize / 1st International Anti-Terrorism Cartoon Contest 2011 Tehran (Iran) [63]
2011 – “Masters of caricature” Prize / The Sixth International Biennale “Masters of Caricature” Plovdiv 2011 (Bulgaria) [64]
2011 – Honorable Mention / 9th International Cartoon Contest “KARPIK 2011” / Niemodlin (Poland) [65]
2011 – Special Prize of Jury meeting / Second Master Cup International Illustration Biennial Beijing (China) [66]
2011 – Honorary Prize / Second Master Cup International Illustration Biennial Beijing (China) [67]
2011 – Excellent Prize / Second Master Cup International Illustration Biennial Beijing (China) [68]
2011 – Special Prize / International Book Cartoon Contest 2011 Tehran (Iran) [69]
2011 – Excellent Prize / The First International Caricature Art Competition (China) [70]
2011 – Best Cartoon Prize / DICACO 2011 – Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [71]
2011 – Second Prize International “Wall ST. Fall” Cartoon Contest 2011 Tehran (Iran) [72]
2012 – Special Prize / 18th International Golden Keg 2012 Presov (Slovakia) [73]
2012 – Yilmaz Guney Honor Awards / 2nd international Yilmaz Guney Cartoon Contest (Turkey) [74]
2012 – Special Prize / International cartoon contest “The Mermaid 2012” Ozersk (Russia) [75]
2012 – The special prize of jury meeting – Copper Panda Medal / The 2st Gold Panda International Cartoon and Illustration Competition Beijing (China) [76]
2012 – Special Prize / 3nd International Cartoon Competition “BEWARE! FOOD” Berlin (Germany) [77]
2012 – Special Award of the Museum of Sport and Tourism ‘”THE BALL IS IN PLAY” / International Cartoon Competition Warsaw (Poland) [78]
2012 – Special Award / XIII International Cartoon Competition “Independence” (“Football”) (Ukraine) [79]
2012 – First Prize – Cartoon / 39º Salão Internacional de Humor de Piracicaba (Brazil) [80]
2012 – Silver medal / International cartoon contest “Fun in Vassylivka style” Vassylivka city, Zaporozhye reg. (Ukraine) [81]
2012 – First Prize / 6th SMEHANAPA (SMILEANAPA) International Cartoon Festival – Anapa (Russia) [82]
2012 – Honorable Mention / Axial Cartoon Contest (Hungary) [83]
2012 – Honorable Mention / 13th International Cartoon Competition Spirito di Vino Udine (Italy) [84]
2012 – Second Prize / International Creative Competition of caricatures “Not Gods clear pots” (95 years to the Perm system of the sewerage) Perm (Russia) [85]
2012 – “Bucovina” Prize – Gold medal / The International Exhibition of Satirical Graphic BUCOVINA Suceava (Romania) [86]
2012 – Honorable Mention / 18th Humour a Gallarate cartoon contest Gallarate (Italy) [87]
2012 – Theme Prize / DICACO 2012 / Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [88]
2012 – Special Prize / Cartoon Contest “The bite in 2012” Moscow (Russia) [89]
2013 – Grand Prize / 18th International cartoon contest “ Golden Keg 2013”, Presov (Slovakia) [90]
2013 – Special Prize / First International Graphic Humour Festival ‘SUNNY DRAGON’ Yerevan (Armenia) [91]
2013-2014 – Third Prize “Bronze ushanka” / Surgut International Forum on visual humor KARIKATURUM 7, Surgut (Russia) [92]
2013 – Honorable Mention / 5th P.C.RATH Memorial International Web Cartoon Contest Bolangir (India) [93]
2013 – Second Prize / International Cartoon Competition „The Great and the Little Warsaw – or speaking well and ever better our capital” Warsaw (Poland) [94]
2013 – Special Prize / 33rd International Nasreddin Hoca Caricature Competition (Turkey) [95]
2013 – Mention / International Accessible Izmir Cartoon Contest Izmir (Turkey) [96]
2013 – Special Award / XIII International Contest Cartoon «Independence» (Theme: “The Knight’s move”) Kyiv (Ukraine) [97]
2013 – Gold Medal / First Teapot Cartoons Service International Cartoon Exhibition (Turkey) [98]
2013 – Mention / First Teapot Cartoons Service International Cartoon Exhibition (Turkey) [99]
2013 – Audience prizes / International cartoon competition Brain Sneezing Presov (Slovakia) [100]
2013 – Theme Prize / SICACO 2013 – Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [101]
2013 – Honorable Mention / 18th Humour a Gallarate cartoon contest Gallarate (Italy) [102]
2013 – Grand Prize / VII DON QUICHOTTE “Citizenship” International Cartoon Contest Stuttgart (Germany) [103]
2014 – 2nd Prize / 5th International Cartoon Competition Berlin (Germany) [104]
2014 – Honorable Mention / 20th International Cartoon Contest “GOLDEN KEG” Presov (Slovakia) [105]
2014 – Honorable Mention / DQ “ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION” International Cartoon Exhibition Stuttgart (Germany) [106]
2014 – 7-77 Prize / 20th International 7-77 Cartoon Competition Ankara (Turkey) [107]
2014 – Honorable Mention / Porto cartoon World Festival 2014 Porto (Portugal) [108]
2014 – Second Prize / 7th International Contest of Caricature and Cartoon of Vianden (Luxembourg) [109]
2014 – Honorable Mention / II International Cartoon Competition 2014 “Living streets” (Estonia) [110]
2014 – Silver Prize / 9th International Cartoon Contest SYRIA 2014 Damascus (Syria) [111]
2014 – Third prize / 1st International Cartoon Contest MAIDAN Kyiv (Ukraine) [112]
2014 – First Prize / The 10th International Cartoon Contest SYRIA 2014 Damascus (Syria) [113]
2014 – Special Prize of Akşehir Municipality and Nasreddin Hoca / 34th International Nasreddin Hoca Caricature Competition (Turkey) [114]
2014 – Honorable Mention / IV International competition of cartoons and caricatures “The Devil gas station” Kherson (Ukraine) [115]
2014 – Second Prize / The humor and satire “IN VINICA VERITAS“ Vinica (Macedonia) [116]
2014 – First Prize / CIRCASSIANS Cartoon Contest Results Istanbul (Turkey ) [117]
2014 – Honorable Mention / Concurso Internacional de Humor Gráfico “La Sonrisa Moche” Provincial de Trujillo (Peru) [118]
2014 – Special Prize / XIV International Cartoon Contest “Independence” Theme: “New World Order” Kyiv (Ukraine) [119]
2014 – Honorable Mention / International Cartoon Humour Competition “Brain Sneezing” Presov (Slovakia) [120]
2014 – Honorable Mention / 7th International “Smiling Cat” Cartoon Web Contest 2014 Baku (Azerbaijan) [121]
2014 – Honorable Mention / 7th International Cartoon/Caricature Contest Magazine “NOSOROG” (“RHINOCERVS”) Banja Luka (Republika Srpska) [122]
2014 – Best Cartoon Prize / SICACO 2011 – Daejeon International Cartoon Contest (Korea) [123]
2015 – Second Prize / 2. International Tourism Cartoon Contest Anatolya (Turkey) [124]
2015 – Honorable Mention / 21st International Cartoon Competition on the Topic of Beer “The Golden Keg 2015” Presov (Slovakia) [125]
2015 – First Prize / V International competition of cartoons/caricature “Totalitarianism” 2015 / International festival of arts “Gogol – fantasy” and “Carluka” Kherson – Poltava (Ukraine) [126]
2015 – Special Prize / 14th edition of the International Humour Festival “MIHAI EMINESCU” Ploiesti (Romania) [127]
2015 – Special Prize / 20th International Cartoon Exhibition Zagreb 2015 (Croatia) [128]
2015 – Silver plaque / International Festival of aphorism and caricature “Drinker 2015” Delchevo (Republic of Macedonia) [129]
2015 – First Prize / 12th International Tabriz Cartoon Festival Tabriz (Iran) [130]
2015 – First Prize / International Cartoon contest “Land makes its climate” Desertif-Actions D’a15 Montpellier (France) [131]
2015 – Third prize / 7th P.C.RATH MEMORIAL International Web Cartoon Contest 2015 Bolangir (India) [132]
2015 – Special Prize / The first International Cartoon Exhibition “MIKS 2015” Sisak (Croatia) [133]
2015 – Third prize / The international award “Caneva Ride” for humoristic sketches “Like cats and dogs” – Il comune di Càneva, provincia di Pordenone (Italy) [134]
2015 – First Prize / The 25nd edition of „Humor..at Gura Humorului”, the International Festival of Cartoon and Humorous Literature Gura Humorului (Romania) [135]
2015 – First Prize / 21st International Cartoon Contest Haifa (Israel) [136]

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Dear friends, we invite you to another interesting artistic excursion – this time we bring you an excellent collection of the creative work by the cartoonist Oleksiy Kustovsky from Ukraine. Pleasant experience!

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