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CheckoutArtist Day 2026: History, Facts, Art Records and 20% Off Shoes at N-SHOES
Artist Day — 11 October 2026
Second Sunday of October
N-SHOES since 2009
Happy Artist Day! N-SHOES online shoe store salutes the masters of the brush
Dear master of the brush, today is not just a beautiful Sunday — it is your professional holiday.
You give the world remarkable works filled with fresh ideas and love for the nature of Ukraine.
Thanks to you, an encounter with beauty is possible for everyone. Thank you for that.
Happy Artist Day!
-20%
A 20% discount for everyone working in this profession
Painters, illustrators, restorers, teachers of art schools and studios — on the entire N-SHOES range.
Choose your pair for the holiday
Women's and men's footwear in genuine leather, suede and nubuck: Polish factories Rylko, Simen, Lonza, Nessi, Ukrainian brands Anna Lucci and ALLSY, our own N-SHOES Fabio line, plus sport models by Reebok, Joma and DC Shoes.
When Artist Day is celebrated
The date moves every year, so it is worth checking the calendar.
Ukraine
11 October 2026
Artist Day is marked annually on the second Sunday of October. In 2025 it fell on 12 October, and in 2027 it will fall on 10 October.
Worldwide
25 October
International Artist Day is tied to the birthday of Pablo Picasso. The initiative came from the Canadian art community in 2004.
UNESCO
15 April
World Art Day honours the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci. The date was established by the International Association of Art and has been supported by UNESCO since 2019.
History of the holiday: from the 1998 decree to today
A short account of how Ukraine gained its own professional day for artists.
- 9 October 1998 — President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma signed Decree No. 1132/98 "On Artist Day".
- Rationale — the role of artists in developing Ukrainian fine art, reviving national traditions, and the initiative of the Union of Artists of Ukraine.
- The date — the second Sunday of October, so the holiday always falls on a weekend, convenient for exhibitions, gallery openings and plein-air sessions.
- Who celebrates — painters, graphic artists, sculptors, art historians, restorers, illustrators, designers, art school teachers and students of art academies.
- The National Union of Artists of Ukraine has around 3,900 members (2023 data, excluding occupied territories).
Why it matters right now
During the full-scale war, Ukrainian artists have become a separate front of cultural diplomacy: charity auctions for the armed forces, murals in de-occupied towns, evacuation of museum collections, restoration of damaged works. Art is a language through which Ukraine is heard around the world.
Interesting facts about artists and painting
A selection of verified facts — from prehistoric caves to today's art market.
Archaeology
Paintings older than 45,000 years
The oldest known figurative cave art has been found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The European caves of Chauvet and Lascaux are younger, yet they shaped our idea of prehistoric art.
Materials
Blue cost more than gold
Until the 19th century ultramarine was ground from lapis lazuli brought from Afghanistan. The pigment cost more than gold, so blue was reserved for the most important details of a painting.
Ukraine
Trypillia and Saint Sophia
The painted ceramics of the Trypillia culture are among the oldest decorative art on these lands, while the 11th-century mosaics and frescoes of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv still astonish with their smalt technique.
UNESCO
Petrykivka painting
In 2013 Petrykivka decorative painting was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Kosiv painted ceramics followed in 2019.
Biographies
Recognition often comes late
According to the widely repeated account, Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime — "The Red Vineyard". Today his works rank among the most expensive in the world.
Education
An academy since 1917
The Ukrainian Academy of Arts was founded in Kyiv in 1917. Its successor, NAOMA, still trains painters, graphic artists, sculptors and restorers.
Records of the art world
The figures most often quoted when the art market is discussed.
USD 450.3 m
The most expensive painting in history
"Salvator Mundi" by Leonardo da Vinci, Christie's New York, 2017. The record still stands.
USD 85.8 m
The most expensive artist of Ukrainian origin
"Suprematist Composition" (1916) by Kazimir Malevich, born in Kyiv, sold in 2018 — the highest result among artists connected with Ukraine.
GBP 2.3 m
A record for Sotheby's online bidding
"The Bay of Naples" by Ivan Aivazovsky, 2020. Sixteen bidders competed for the canvas against a 0.8–1.2 million pound estimate.
USD 90.3 m
The most expensive painting by a living artist
"Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" by David Hockney, 2018 — the benchmark for works sold while the artist was alive.
1,595 sq m
The largest canvas in the world
"The Journey of Humanity" by Sacha Jafri holds the Guinness World Record for the largest art canvas; in 2021 it was sold at a charity auction in Dubai for 62 million dollars.
6,000+
Sheer productivity
That is how many paintings, watercolours and drawings Ivan Aivazovsky created, taking part in more than 120 exhibitions — one of the most prolific marine painters in history.
Ukrainian artists the world is proud of
The names to start with when discovering Ukrainian fine art.
Classics and the avant-garde
- Kazimir Malevich — born in Kyiv, founder of Suprematism, author of "Black Square".
- Ivan Aivazovsky — a marine painter of world stature whose works the Metropolitan Museum of Art has reattributed as Ukrainian.
- Arkhyp Kuindzhi — the master of light, born in Mariupol.
- Mykola Pymonenko — genre scenes and Ukrainian landscapes of the late 19th century.
Folk art and contemporary names
- Maria Prymachenko — naive painting recognised worldwide; her works have become a symbol of cultural resistance.
- Kateryna Bilokur — a singular floral colourist shown at the 1954 exhibition in Paris.
- Tetyana Yablonska — one of the most influential Ukrainian painters of the 20th century.
- Anatoly Kryvolap — contemporary non-figurative landscape with six-figure results at international auctions.
Shoes for an artist: what to wear in the studio and at the opening
Work at the easel means hours on your feet, so footwear for an artist follows the same rules as for doctors or teachers: cushioning, natural materials and easy cleaning.
Studio
Sneakers and plimsolls
Rubber outsole, textile lining and cushioning for daily work in the studio or outdoors. Models by Reebok, Joma, DC Shoes and N-SHOES Fabio.
Gallery
Loafers and pumps
Genuine suede and leather with a stable low heel — comfortable for several hours at a private view. Women's models by Anna Lucci, Nessi and Rylko.
Mid-season
Boots and ankle boots
Flannel lining, lacing plus a side zip and a 2.5–3 cm platform keep you dry and warm in October weather. Lonza, Simen, ALLSY.
Care
Protection from paint
Treat suede and nubuck with a water-repellent spray before the first wear and smooth leather with cream. Wipe fresh acrylic off immediately with a damp cloth, without rubbing it in.
Sizing tip: the fur-lined ALLSY SS-103 winter models run small — take one size up. The insole length for every pair is listed in the product card.
How to claim the 20% Artist Day discount
The offer applies to people working in creative professions.
1
Pick your pair
Add women's or men's footwear from the N-SHOES catalogue to your cart.
2
State your profession
In the order comment write "Artist Day" and name your field — painter, illustrator, restorer, art school teacher.
3
Get your 20% off
A manager confirms the order and recalculates the total with the discount before shipping via Nova Poshta.
Why customers choose the N-SHOES online store
2009
The year the store was founded. For more than 15 years we have been selecting footwear that lasts seasons, not weeks.
100% natural materials
Leather, suede and nubuck in most models. Every product card lists the upper, lining, insole and outsole materials.
Offline + online
Try a pair on at the N-SHOES store in the KLAS shopping centre in Kharkiv, or order online with delivery across Ukraine.
Key categories: women's shoes men's shoes Polish footwear leather boots sneakers loafers ankle boots pumps shoes Kharkiv delivery across Ukraine
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of Artist Day in 2026?
11 October 2026. The holiday falls on the second Sunday of October under Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1132/98.
Can the 20% discount be combined with other promotions?
The holiday discount is not cumulative with other offers and applies to the base price of the item.
How do I choose the right size online?
Measure your foot in the evening while standing on a sheet of paper and compare the length with the insole given in the product description. For fur-lined models add 0.5 cm.
Can I exchange a pair if the size does not fit?
Yes. Exchanges and returns follow the Law of Ukraine "On Protection of Consumer Rights", provided the item and its packaging retain their original condition.
You create beauty — we take care of comfort
Congratulations to every artist in Ukraine, and enjoy 20% off your new pair.
2025-10-11 00:01:00
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