Icons Save Lives by Ukrainian Artists
The artworks are the result of a collaboration with 34 Ukrainian contemporary icon painters. These talented artists used ammunition boxes as their canvases.
Lviv based Icon art Gallery approached several leading Ukrainian contemporary icon painters to create works for an auction “Icon saves lives – Ukraine” with raised funds to be donated to "Завжди Україна" (“Always Ukraine”) Charitable Foundation. Presented are contemporary icons created by 34 artists on boards that were removed from ammunition crates – real ammunition crates from real war that is going on now in Ukraine.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (21th century) by Kateryna KuzivUkraine House
Kateryna Kuziv, "Blessed are the peacemakers..."
...for they will be called children of God...
When I painted on an ammunition board that was brought from war, I felt almost like touching this other horrible reality. On verso I painted suffering and death.
Intercession of the Theotokos by Lidiya Yakobchuk
Artist's saying
...When I first picked up a board, I knew I would paint the Protection of the Mother of God icon. I envisioned the Mother of God shielding our sky from Russian bombs, and the cross in my icon mirrors the one on Ukrainian military vehicles...
I am the vine, you are the branches (21th century) by Roman BarabakhUkraine House
I am the vine, you are the branches
by Roman Barabakh
Roman Barabakh says,
War now touches every Ukrainian's life, but our faith can turn something terrible into something beautiful.
Artist adds,
Despite the darkness of this war, it has revealed the inner light, strength, and unity within us. Unity with God feels different in these times.
Roman says,
That's why I painted the hand of Christ in a military uniform — He is not distant, but near, among us, and He is not leaving us.
Attack (21th century) by Natalya RusetskaUkraine House
Attack by Natalya Rusetska
Artist's saying,
On my icon I painted the World as a paradise and a wild animal who attacks it. Metaphorically, this symbolizes our everyday life when everyone is trying to preserve and defend the most precious – our own paradise.
Protection by Lyuba Yatskiv
The main artefact in my work is the board that carries the vibes of a war and is its witness. The icon is a mere illustration of how a human being feels during the war. We are being protected by our ground forces and the heavenly forces.
The root of life (21th century) by Olha KovtunUkraine House
The root of life
by Olha Kovtun
Olha Kovtun says,
Leaving Ukraine left me feeling breathless and disconnected. When I started creating, I painted flowers—they brought me calm.
Artist says,
I realized I felt like a flower uprooted, deprived of soil, but still seeking light.
Olha adds,
This inspired the image of a flower with bare roots, symbolizing our strength.
Artist says,
Despite everything, we are alive and reaching for the light. The red circle in my work represents the sun and our belief in victory.
The Last Supper (21th century) by Iryna SolonynkaUkraine House
The Last Supper by Iryna Solonynka
Artist's saying,
With my work I wanted to help our army who is fighting for our victory. The board I used to paint my icon I reclaimed from an ammunition crate. It has a different aesthetics now but still the same function – help Ukrainian army win this war.
Intercession of the Theotokos
by Uliana Krekhovets
On February 24, 2022, my peaceful icons turned into defenders of our country. Since then, I’ve been sketching the war daily. These are not fine art but my voice to the world—expressing the absurdity of a dictator trying to conquer a free nation. Using simple tools, I portray the need to pray and believe in victory. My sketches blend folk icons with surreal images of saints and everyday heroes, often featuring children-angels symbolizing the souls of those lost in the war.
Andrii Kovalenko says, For me the board is the Christ. It is derives from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, a symbol of antagonism between God and Satan. We all have a choice which side to choose. I believe that truth always wins. Yet the price we pay is enormous. We remember suffering of Christ to save our souls.
Flight into Egypt (21th century) by Ivan DashkoUkraine House
Flight into Egypt by Ivan Dashko
These icons not only reflect on emotions of an individual witnessing the war but also represent the faith, hope and strength to overcome this calamity as a group – one unified Ukrainian nation.
