The thesis analyzes the origin and development of Ukrainian art history of late XX - early XXI century, its social and cultural foundations. It is determined that art history is a comparatively new branch of humanities, which is both the academic field of history and theory of art and modern art criticism. It is based on the idea of revival of national culture and traditions, at the same time stresses the need for understanding and comprehension of the historical past and foundation of new objective criteria for assessing historical events and phenomena of art and creative activity of individuals.It is stated that the establishment of art history and art criticism in Ukraine dates back to the late nineteenth century. It was at this time when Ukrainian scientists made periods of art history of Ukraine, wrote and published the first generalizing work that casually touched the art history. The scientists analyzed the Ukrainian national artistic heritage as an organic part of the whole cultural process. The foundation for the formation and development of national education was then laid in the field of art history. It is investigated that today's Ukrainian art-science in different volumes develops in research institutions, sometimes in art museums and art schools which are located in the largest cities of our country: Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv. Thus, M. T. Rylski Institute of Art Studies, Folklore and Ethnology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv), Ukrainian Institute of Ethnology of National Academy of Sciences (Lviv), Institute of Contemporary Art (Kyiv) and Ukrainian Institute of Cultural Sciences of National Academy of Sciences (Kyiv) belongs to representatives of art-science. As for the art-science in universities, we described the department of art only in leading higher educational institutions of Ukraine, each of them has its own history. This includes the department of history and theory of art in Kyiv - the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, in Kharkiv - the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, in Lviv - the Lviv National Academy of Arts. Their main purpose is to train specialists in art generalists who acquire knowledge in the theory and art history and related sciences, learn the rules of research, museum, educational, publishing and organizational work for training. Teaching staff of art departments tries to integrate their experience of teaching professional disciplines in the practice of modern world achievements by rethinking curricula and programs to create a modern methodological base for the organization of the educational process. The objectives of the thesis does not belong to the activity of the recently liquidated institutions: Research Institute of Theory and History of Architecture, Art Museum, Ukrainian Society for Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, Ukrainian association of local lore, and more. All scientific and academic institutions create conditions for a broad scientific discussion of problems of art and culture by publishing collections of articles, newsletters, almanacs, conferences, "round tables", which combines the research capabilities of scientists from all regions of Ukraine.
