The problem of preserving and developing traditions in visual arts is debatable due to ambiguous interpretation of the term “tradition” and multiplicity of views on the role of traditional art in modern artistic process. The article analyses the role of ethnic traditions in the formation and development of professional visual arts of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. Scientific originality of the paper lies in the fact that the author examines the development of the Kabardino-Balkarian visual arts in historical dynamics (the 1960s - the beginning of the XXI century) and applies the culturological approach to the problems of preserving ethnic traditions in modern art. It is shown that the use of folk poetics helps to create a national artistic image both in the Soviet period realistic art and in the modern avant-garde.