The Painting Department began its activities alongside the opening of the educational institution in March 1946.

The first lecturers were renowned Ukrainian painters and founders of the Transcarpathian School of Painting: Adalbert Erdeli, Yosyp Bokshay, Andriy Kotska, Ernest Kontratovych, Adalbert Boretsky, and Shandor Petki. The first head of the department was Fedir Manailo. Diploma works covered various genres: portraits, landscapes, and thematic compositions. Among the post-war students were Volodymyr Mykyta, Yuriy Hertz, Pavlo Bedzir, Edita and Mykola Medvetsky, Ivan Shutev, Vyacheslav Prykhodko, Ferenc Seman, Vasyl Gabda, Mykhailo Romanyshyn, Yuliy Stashko, and Yelyzaveta Kremnitska.