Mikalai Mikhalap

Mikalai Mikhalap
Born	(1886-04-28)April 28, 1886 Minsk, Russian Empire
Died	1979 Minsk, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian Empire → Soviet Union
Style	Ceramic, small architectural forms
Awards

Mikalai Prakopavych Mikhalap was a Soviet ceramic artist and director of the National Art Museum of Belarus from 1939 to 1941.

Biography

Mikalai Mihalap came from the family of railwayman father and housemaid mother. He graduated from Baron Stieglitz Central school for Technical Draftsmanship (current Saint Petersburg Art and Industry Academy). Mihalap was the first Belarusian ceramic artist.

Mikalai was teaching in Vitebsk Art School and running a department of pottery and ceramic there from 1925 to 1930. He was close with Belarusian classic Yanka Kupala; he painted his portrait and created first decoration for one of Kupala's plays.