ORLANDO – May 5, 2022 – An art exhibition entitled “Ukrainian Artists Defending Freedom” has debuted at CityArts in downtown Orlando. The exhibit features illustrations by 15 Ukrainian artists from the Pictoric Illustrators Club art collective opposing the attack on their home country by Russian armed forces.
The exhibit will run May 1-15 in CityArts’ upstairs Redefine Gallery. Prints and t-shirts of the works on display will be available for purchase at CityArts with all proceeds going to Nova Ukraine, an organization doing humanitarian work on the ground in Ukraine.
The exhibition’s opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 7 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. with comments at 3:45 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by a local Ukrainian opera singer and refreshments will include traditional Ukrainian hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Anna Morozova, the exhibit’s organizer, is from Ukraine herself. She hopes that the exhibit will continue to show in other local galleries after it leaves CityArts and until the war in Ukraine has finally ceased.
“Every day, dozens of innocent people are killed or injured in Ukraine. Artists are no exception,” Morozova said. “Usually, they act as witnesses to interpret and comprehend new narratives through their work, but during the war, many of them swapped their brushes and pencils for Molotov cocktails. They defend not only freedom, but Ukrainian culture itself.”
Some of the exhibit’s featured artists have fled to other countries, while others created the pieces on display from the barracks in Kyiv. Through their works, they have united under one voice to preserve Ukrainian culture and tell their country’s story to the people of Central Florida and beyond.
To support Nova Ukraine’s work, please click here or text ART4UKRAINE to 41444.
About United Arts of Central Florida
United Arts of Central Florida is your local arts agency. With the help of individual donors, corporations and foundations, United Arts fuels art, science and history in our community. United Arts is proud to finance arts education programs for all ages, critical funding for the arts, capacity building and training for local organizations and comprehensive marketing for our local art sector.
For more information, visit http://www.UnitedArts.cc or call 407.628.0333.