Olha Petrivna (Peretsivna) Rapai-Markish (married name - Rapai; 1929-2012), member of the National Academy of Arts (1956). She graduated from the Kyiv Art Institute (1956, teacher - M. Helman).
O. Rapai's giftedness in modeling small sculptures was noted during her studies at the institute, when her works "Kolomyika" (together with M. Rapai) and "Uzbekka" were recommended for mass production, and the artist was recommended to work at the Kyiv Experimental Ceramics and Art Factory. At the factory (1956-1967), the sphere of her activity was the development of new samples of small porcelain plastics, portrait busts (T. Shevchenko, 1963), children's sets (1960), souvenirs and postcards. She also created sculptures for art exhibitions: "Friendship" , "Girls' Day", 1957; Portrait of the People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR Larysa Rudenko (together with O. Zhnykrup, 1959). She worked in close cooperation with O. Zhnykrup, who modelled the series "Carousel" on her sketch, painted many of her works.
In the formation of the artist was guided by the traditions of academic realism, folk ceramic plastic and minimalism. The sculptures of O. Rapai are autobiographical and are the embodiment of various scenes from the surrounding life (recreation, sports, theatrical mise-en-scene, circus and pop performances), at the same time - they interpret the famous literary works ("Solokha", 1959) and folk dances, etc.
The small plastic of O. Rapai became a classic of Ukrainian porcelain, it was produced at KECAF and other porcelain factories. The works took part in republican, all-Union, international art and industrial exhibitions since 1957, received awards, were exported abroad; now they are kept in leading museums.
