Step into a vibrant world where clay becomes character and every sculpture tells a story in Folktales and Fanfare: Sculpture and Drawings by Janina Myronova at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art in Great Falls, Montana. The exhibition celebrates the imaginative work of ceramic artist Janina Myronova, whose bold, whimsical figures draw inspiration from folklore, personal reflection, and storytelling.
With bright, rosy-cheeked faces, exaggerated forms, and playful surface illustrations, Myronova’s work captures attention and curiosity. “Each sculpture is a storyteller,” she says, “echoing the rich tapestry of folklore — frozen moments of a big performance, seen through a cheerful and positive lens.”
Myronova, born in Ukraine and now living in Poland, has been immersed in the international artist-in-residence community since earning her PhD from the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland, in 2019. She arrived in the US in 2022 as a McKnight Fellow at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis and continued as a Long-Term Resident Artist at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. She is currently in residence at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia.
A highlight of the Folktales and Fanfare exhibition is “Meet Me in Montana,” created during Janina Myronova’s 2024 residency at the Archie Bray Foundation. Chief Curator Nicole Maria Evans acknowledges the generous support of Wayne Boeck for sponsoring the exhibition and the Hiltner Family for making the sculpture’s permanent installation at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art possible. This important acquisition marks the first major placement of Myronova’s work in a US museum sculpture garden and reflects a shared dedication to supporting and advancing the ceramic arts in Montana.
Exhibition programming includes an Artist Lecture with Janina Myronova; Little Clay Companions Ceramic Workshop; Ribbon Cutting for “Meet Me in Montana;” and docent-led tours for all ages, including special 3rd grade tour and hands-on art activities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the charm, color, and creativity of Janina Myronova’s ceramic world — where humor meets heart and every sculpture has a tale to tell. On view through June 14.
To learn more, visit the-square.org.
