The results of the competition for the creation of the mural

We are introducing you to the works and concepts of the artists who took part in the open competition to create a mural on the facade of our factory.
We have received more than four dozen applications. Artists from Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Syzran, Yaroslavl, Yekaterinburg, Tambov, Krasnoyarsk, Ulyanovsk, Kineshma, Kazan sent their ideas. And the participant from Astana (Kazakhstan) gave our contest the status of an international one!
Each work submitted to the competition was a real gift for us — they feel a deep connection with traditions, the courage of creative search and an amazing variety of interpretations of the Gzhel painting.
We publish the works of those authors who have given us their approval for the publication of their projects.

Artist: Nastya Tsypler, Moscow

Concept: Folk dance, a thread of traditions
The folk dance, as a symbol of unity and support, embodies the harmony of folk tradition — like the Gzhel painting, where each curl, intertwining with others, creates an integral pattern. The round dance circle, like blue and white ornaments on porcelain, unites people in movement, reminding them that strength lies in unity, and beauty lies in simplicity and sincerity.
Nastya: “I chose the theme of round dance because I devoted most of my life to folk dance and as a child it became a real support and support for me.”

Artist: Evgeny Turaev, Moscow

In his concept, Evgeny wanted to reflect not only the elements of the Gzhel painting, but also to pay tribute to the masters who create these works of art. This is how the idea was born to depict an elegant female hand, which applies elements of floral ornament to the factory building. The sleeve of a traditional Russian shirt is visible, also embroidered in blue and white tones. To emphasize the variety of Gzhel painting options (not only blue on white, but also vice versa), large drawing elements on a dark background are introduced into the drawing, organically intertwining with the main one. These elements have a rectangular shape and are a reference to pixels or glitch, emphasizing that even in the digital age, traditional Gzhel painting remains relevant and in demand. Evgeny used a repeating ornament on the upper cornice and added the factory’s logo, as craftsmen do on their ceramic works.

Artist: Valeria Malyutina, Moscow

The concept: “Gzhelli. Comfort in roasting”
Compositionally, the facade is divided into three color zones, symbolizing the stages of Gzhel production.:

– The pink part reflects the inner world of the masters, their warmth, care and creative vision. It depicts the hands of workers sculpting and painting porcelain products — abstractly, symbolically, with respect for work.

– The gray zone in the center is the “milky way” of spilled milk, a metaphor for the transition, a space of inspiration in which the mythical creature Gzhelli the Cat soars.

– The blue zone is the personification of a finished product, purity and light.

The project’s slogan is displayed here in a unique font that combines modern forms and elements of Old Slavic script, emphasizing the connection between the past and the present.:

“Gzhel is not just porcelain, but feelings baked in the fire.”

Gzhelli the cat is a fictional character, a symbol of comfort, fantasy and warmth. He combined the images of craftsmen and buyers, existing on the border of reality and fairy tales. His look is based on a unique author’s style: heart shape, dual colors —

pink and blue, reflecting both the master and the viewer.

Artist: Victor Voronov, Tambov

At the heart of the concept, it was decided to link two directions in the formation of the mural: the military merits of our country and the definition of the three main pillars underlying the creative and physical work of the masters of the Gzhel Porcelain Factory, expressed in separate graphic illustrations.

Artist: Natalia Grebennikova (NatashaGre), Moscow

In her concept, Natalia refers to the images and motifs of the Gzhel majolica of the 18th century. Especially for the project, she creates special ornaments with colors typical of this period of the craft’s development. There are not only beautiful pictures on the facade. They encode the history of the fishery and the whole area, which at one time was called the Gzhel bush. Today, this part of the fishing history is practically unknown on the market. We need to restore knowledge about the history of our people. This is what prompted Natalia to create a project in the unconventional style of modern Gzheli porcelain. All the ornaments and details were created “from scratch” and manually based on paintings of pottery from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Artist: Polina Grits, St. Petersburg

Polina wanted to keep the facade airy and not overload it with a worn-out conceptual and ornamental mural. This option seems very minimalistic, modern and at the same time classic and gentle. The lower part of the facade includes animals and characters, at the level of the windows of the first floors, which form a perfect backdrop for a memorable photo against the background of the factory.

Artist: Dmitry Balakhnin, Nizhny Novgorod

Dmitry presented several layouts in various styles at once, skillfully and vividly compiling Gzhel painting, a game with blue flowers and photographs of real-life Gzhel products.

Artist: Olga Molebnova, Syzran

“Only our man knows from childhood the hidden purpose of burdock and plantain, and instead of a Long sleeve, hoodie, or pullover, he just has a sweatshirt!” What is it? A phrase filled to the brim with sarcasm? Or thought-provoking? A phrase that ridicules clumsiness or, conversely, praises uniqueness built over centuries? A phrase in which the base is read between the lines? Or the bluntness that hits you head-on? Every word instantly sends us back to childhood with its “put on a sweatshirt” and “put on a burdock”… there is our strength and our joyful serenity, which are often so lacking today. Remember! Take a dip! Stay in it! Smile and take this state into your own now! After all, in every word there is a life… lived by you!

Artist: Kali Baynazarov, Astana, Kazakhstan

Kali divided the building into 3 parts with different colors, as if there were 3 different designs. The end part is light gray like porcelain, on which the Gzhel painting is applied. As a result, the building looks very modern and beautiful.