Kyiv Metro decorative arts gallery - Galleries

Kyiv Metro decorative arts

In August of 2019 I spent 2 weeks travelling around Ukraine and Moldova during which I spent a total of 5 days in Kyiv. The decorative arts used in the Kyiv Metro stations are of particular note. Construction of the Kyiv Metro began in 1949 and the first stations opened in 1960. It may not be as extensive as some (there are 52 stations on 3 lines, with a 4th line under construction and 2 more planned) and the stations are not on the grandiloquent scale of the Moscow Metro, but they are full of gorgeous decorative arts that will fascinate and delight any fan of mid-century modern design. Most of the communist/soviet iconography (stars, hammer & sickles, images of the red army, etc. etc.) have been removed or covered up, but plenty of beautiful mid-century modern designs and materials remain, and I hope to give you a flavour of them in this gallery.

Of course when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022 it was a horrible shock to see people crowding into metro stations that I had happily and peacefully been using myself not much more than 2 1/2 years earlier, not to admire the design, but to shelter from the bombing. I spent some of my last day in Kyiv exploring just a tiny percentage of the system (mainly Line 2 and a little of Line 1), but what I saw left a big impression on me. When peace returns to the people of Ukraine (may it happen soon as possible!) I look forward to returning to Kyiv to explore more.

Арсенальна (Arsenalna - Line 1)

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1 - Arsenalna - 1

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1 - Arsenalna - 2

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1 - Arsenalna - 3

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1 - Arsenalna - 4

Arsenalna was my "local" station just a short walk from my hotel. It has the distinction of being deepest station in the world! The journey from street level down to the platform is made on a single long flight of escalators and takes a good 5 minutes! Arsenalna was one of the original stations with the Kyiv Metro began operating in 1960, and while it may not be a colourful as many of the other stations, the beautiful marble tiling made it perhaps my favourite.

Деміївська/Майдан Незалежності (Khreshchatyk/Maidan Nezalezhnosti - Line 1/2)

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1/2 - Maidan Nezalezhnosti 1

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 1/2 - Khreshchatyk/Maidan Nezalezhnosti 2

This is one of the big interchange stations connecting lines 1 & 2. It is known as Khreshchatyk (opened in 1960) on Line 1 and Maidan Nezalezhnosti (opened 1976) on Line 2.

Палац Україна (Palats Ukraina - Line 2)

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 2 - Palats Ukraina 1

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 2 - Palats Ukraina 2

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 2 - Palats Ukraina 3

This station opened in 1984. Note the metal sheets covering up the communist iconography

Хрещатик (Demiivska - Line 2)

Kyiv Metro decorative arts - Line 2 - Demiivska

Because it has remained faithful to the style of the older stations, Demiivska might not look it, but it is actually one of the most recent stations, opening in 2010.