From London to Lviv: How the World’s Artists Are Supporting Ukraine
- Matthew Parish
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the global artistic community has rallied to express solidarity, raise funds and amplify Ukrainian voices. From concert halls in Vienna to galleries in Tokyo, from fashion runways in Paris to graffiti-covered walls in New York, artists across genres and continents have responded with creativity, compassion and defiance. This transnational wave of cultural support is not only heartening—it has become a potent form of resistance, diplomacy and healing.
Art as Protest: Global Exhibitions and Interventions
Within weeks of the invasion, galleries and museums around the world began mounting exhibitions in solidarity with Ukraine. In London, the Saatchi Gallery hosted “Ukraine: Short Stories”, a multidisciplinary show that combined visual art, poetry and documentary film by Ukrainian and international creators. Its goal was to make visible the experiences of those under siege, displaced or fighting back through culture.
In Berlin artists used the former Tempelhof airport to stage an open-air projection titled “Light for Ukraine”, illuminating the airfield with testimonies and drawings from children in bomb shelters. These and other initiatives served not only to raise awareness but to challenge the media narrative in countries where Kremlin propaganda still finds traction.
British artist Banksy’s 2022 trip to Ukraine drew widespread attention when the elusive street artist painted images of defiance—including a ballerina dancing on rubble—on walls in Kyiv, Irpin and Borodianka. These works, widely shared online, blur the line between art and journalism, turning ruins into canvases of resilience.
Music as Mobilisation: Concerts and Fundraisers
The global music community also answered the call. In March 2022, the Concert for Ukraine at Birmingham’s NEC Arena brought together Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra. Broadcast across ITV (a prominent British commercial television channel) and online platforms, the concert raised millions for humanitarian aid.
Opera houses and classical musicians also joined the movement. The Metropolitan Opera in New York suspended all collaborations with Russian artists affiliated with the Kremlin and opened its season with a benefit performance of “A Concert for Ukraine” featuring the Ukrainian national anthem. Meanwhile Kyiv’s own ensembles, such as the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, have continued to perform in defiance of war, sometimes rehearsing in blackout conditions or performing in shelters.
On a grassroots level, local music schools, choirs and community theatres across Europe have organised benefit concerts, often led by Ukrainian refugees themselves, providing both moral and material support.
Fashion, Film and the Power of Visibility
Fashion has proven to be another surprising front in cultural solidarity. Ukrainian designers like Svitlana Bevza and Ksenia Schnaider have garnered global attention, not just for their work but for their vocal advocacy. Major fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, and New York have opened with moments of silence or blue-and-yellow motifs, while designers have raised funds through limited editions and charity auctions.
In cinema, the European Film Academy and major festivals such as Cannes and Berlinale have spotlighted Ukrainian filmmakers. Documentaries like “20 Days in Mariupol” and “The Earth is Blue as an Orange” have reached wide international audiences, winning awards and preserving the war’s brutal truths against Kremlin disinformation. These films, often created under fire, serve as testimony, artistic achievement, and historical record all at once.
Artists in Exile, Artists at Home
Many Ukrainian artists have fled the war and found residencies abroad, where they continue to create and advocate. Cities like Warsaw, Prague, and Tbilisi have become hubs for cultural production in exile. Yet others have chosen to stay—sometimes enlisting in the military, sometimes turning their studios into aid centres. The Kyiv-based artist collective Open Group has documented the war from the front lines through experimental photography and video, maintaining a cultural pulse even in times of horror.
The Ukrainian Institute, Ukraine’s primary vehicle for cultural diplomacy, has played a vital role in coordinating international collaboration, supporting displaced artists, and ensuring that Ukraine’s cultural identity is not overshadowed by war.
Art as Healing and Resistance
Beyond protest and fundraising, art has also functioned as therapy. For children and families traumatised by war, drawing, storytelling, and theatre workshops have provided a vital emotional outlet. Ukrainian NGOs like Voices of Children use art therapy as part of their psychosocial care, while international volunteers have supported similar projects in refugee communities.
Art has also helped displaced Ukrainians maintain cultural continuity abroad. Exhibitions, film screenings, and concerts not only raise awareness but allow exiles to connect with their identity and share it with host communities.
A New Cultural Diplomacy
Ultimately, the artistic response to the war has revealed a new kind of cultural diplomacy—grassroots, emotionally resonant, and transnational. While politicians debate and diplomats negotiate, artists have forged connections that transcend borders. Their work has kept Ukraine in global consciousness not as a distant battlefield, but as a living culture worth defending.
This solidarity also sends a message to authoritarian regimes: that art cannot be silenced, and that the language of truth, beauty, and resistance can reach further than missiles.
From London to Lviv, from symphony halls to street murals, the world’s artists have shown that creativity is not a luxury of peace, but a necessity of survival. In doing so, they have become some of Ukraine’s most eloquent allies.
---
Reading and Viewing List
Books and Academic Articles
“Art and Protest in Putin’s Russia” – by Lena Jonson
While focused on Russia, this book provides essential background on the artistic context against which Ukrainian resistance art has emerged.
“Cultural Responses to Occupation in War: Resistance and Identity in Ukraine” – in Europe-Asia Studies, 2023.
An academic article exploring how art, literature and theatre have become tools of resistance in occupied territories.
“Art and War: The Role of Cultural Resistance in Ukraine” – Ukrainian Cultural Studies Journal, 2023.
Discusses examples of contemporary Ukrainian artists whose work has been shaped by or engaged with the war.
“Ukrainian Cultural Diplomacy in Times of War” – published by the Ukrainian Institute (2022).
Outlines the Institute’s efforts to promote Ukrainian art and culture abroad during the war.
Articles and Reports
The New York Times – “How Artists Around the World Are Supporting Ukraine” (March 2022)
nytimes.com (search archive)
The Art Newspaper – “Ukraine’s Artists Refuse to be Silenced”
Interviews and profiles of Ukrainian artists working under bombardment or in exile.
The Guardian – “From Banksy to Ballet: The Global Art World Backs Ukraine”
Coverage of international artistic responses and benefit events.
Financial Times – “Can Culture Help Ukraine Survive?”
A thoughtful piece on the economic and psychological value of cultural continuity during war.
Exhibitions and Institutions
Ukrainian Institute London – www.ukrainianinstitute.org.uk
Hosts exhibitions, talks, and film screenings relating to Ukraine’s war-time culture.
“Ukraine: Short Stories” – Saatchi Gallery, London (2023)
Featured visual art, writing, and digital installations by Ukrainian and international artists.
“This is Ukraine: Defending Freedom” – Venice Biennale, 2022
A major art show curated by the PinchukArtCentre during the Biennale to highlight Ukrainian resistance through art.
Ukrainian Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Kyiv –
Online archive of war-time art and virtual exhibitions available to view internationally.
Music and Performance
Concert for Ukraine (ITV/Global, 2022)
A televised benefit concert featuring major artists to raise humanitarian aid.
Kalush Orchestra’s Eurovision 2022 performance
Their victory was both a musical and symbolic moment for Ukraine, blending traditional Ukrainian themes with modern performance.
Metropolitan Opera’s “A Concert for Ukraine” (New York, 2022)
A classical music fundraiser and artistic stand against the war.
Films and Documentaries
“20 Days in Mariupol” – by Mstyslav Chernov (2023)
Oscar-winning documentary capturing the siege of Mariupol from a journalist’s point of view.
“The Earth is Blue as an Orange” – by Iryna Tsilyk (2020)
A poignant documentary about a Ukrainian family making films in a war zone.
“Homeward” (Evge) – by Nariman Aliev (2019)
A dramatic film exploring Crimean Tatar identity and trauma.
Artists to Follow
Banksy – @banksy (Instagram)
Documented his Ukraine trip with images and sketches.
Sasha Kurmaz – Ukrainian photographer and conceptual artist
Explores themes of identity, militarisation, and urban resistance.
Zhanna Kadyrova – Ukrainian sculptor and installation artist
Known for works using found war debris and rebuilding themes.
Open Group Collective – Multidisciplinary Ukrainian art collective
Documenting war and occupation through performance and visual arts.