Yesterday, the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine hosted the grand opening of the Final exhibition of the art project «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko» The exhibition presents the works of contemporary Ukrainian artists, which were created as part of the artistic competition called ‘Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko’. The theme is visualisation of Lina Kostenko’s poems. The painting based on Lina Kostenko’s poem ‘A little more, a little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom…’, which I painted during this competition, is part of this exhibition.
Grand opening of the FINAL EXHIBITION of the ART PROJECT «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko»
My picture on the FINAL EXHIBITION of the ART PROJECT «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko»
With Lina Kostenko’s daughter Oksana Pakhliovskaia
Grand opening of the FINAL EXHIBITION of the ART PROJECT «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko»
With honoured journalist Sergey Komisarov
Two paintings on the theme of the poem by Lina Kostenko ‘A little more, a little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom…’
The FINAL EXHIBITION of the ART PROJECT «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko»
FINAL EXHIBITION OF THE ART PROJECT «Art Battle Challenge: Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko» 5-19 July 2025 Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine (the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, 9 Lavrsky Lane, Kyiv). «Poetry that comes to life in colours. Painting that breathes poetry». This year’s exhibition is special. For the first time in one space: Paintings created in emotional art battles in 2024 and 2025, as well as those inspired by the poetry of Lina Kostenko outside of artistic battles ORGANISER: The first Ukrainian art agency Art Fine Nation, headed by Vanda Orlova. CO-COURATORS: Iryna Drobot, director of the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine; Serhiy Komisarov, honoured journalist, co-founder of the international art project ‘Come Back Alive!’ The opening ceremony was attended by Lina Kostenko’s daughter Oksana Pakhlovska.
My two paintings «Sunflowers in a vase. Sunshine in the flowers» and «Unexpected Guest» took part in the art exhibition «Touch of the Brush». The exhibition is organized by the NGO «Colors of Life» and taking place at the House of Architects from June 20 to 29. The grand opening of the exhibition took place on June 20.
How Yulia Kovalska combines heritage and modernity
An article about my painting «Tree of Life. Seven Generations“, which takes part in the Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“ of the project ”Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage“, was published in the online edition of the Independent Information and Analytical Diary ”By the Word». I present to your attention a translation of the article into English. You can read the original article here.
Sometimes art becomes not just a reflection of the world, but a bridge between generations, between past and present, between memory and dream. Yulia Kovalska’s painting «Tree of Life. Seven Generations“, presented in the all-Ukrainian cultural and artistic project ”Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage», is exactly that. It’s not just a bright acrylic painting, but a deep conversation about who we were, who we are now, and who we can become. In Yulia’s artwork, the eternal symbol, the Tree of Life, blossoms. Not from myths or textbooks, but from the folk code woven into the colorful Petrykivka painting. This tree carries not only beauty but also meaning — it is a bridge of resistance to chaos, a living pattern of spiritual integrity that grows through trials from generation to generation. Seven generations, represented by lines, branches, and flowers, are more than a number. It is the inner frame of the Ukrainian family, its invisible support. In the center is the harmony of color, pattern, and movement. Each fragment of the canvas is like an extract from a large family book written not in letters, but in brush strokes. And at the same time, it is a book about the future, in which the heritage does not stand in museum silence, but lives and changes with us. Petrykivka painting in Yulia’s artwork is not just a decorative element. It is organic, breathing, and deeply symbolic. Its roots are unity with nature, its trunk is the unbreakable tradition, and its colors are the light that seems to be born from within the painting. All of this is a pictorial manifesto of beauty that does not fade with time.
SEVEN GENERATIONS OF COLOR
SEVEN GENERATIONS OF COLOR
The Tree of Life. Seven generations
“My paintings are my view of the world as I see it or want to see it,” says Yulia Kovalska. In her case, it is a world where tradition is not a shadow of the past, but a source of inspiration, an idea of renewal. In her works, she uses various techniques: acrylic, oil, tempera, and watercolor. Her genres include ornament, iconography, still lifes, and landscapes. But behind the forms there is always one thing — the desire to convey feelings, aspirations, hopes. Something that cannot be expressed in words, but can be felt by looking at her paintings. The Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage project is not just an exhibition, but an attempt to see Ukraine through the eyes of its artists. And Yulia Kovalska’s painting is one of those that remain in the imagination for a long time. It’s as if she says: here, look — our history, our roots, our color. It does not freeze in a pattern, but sprouts again in contemporary art. In the painting «Tree of Life. Seven Generations», the past and present are intertwined in a pattern that you don’t want to unravel — you just want to look and feel. To feel the warm confidence that despite everything we’ve been through, we have the strength to continue to blossom. And this is not a metaphor — this is our path, written in colors that do not fade.
Artist at work
Yulia’s paintings are stories in which everyone can find their own. For some, it’s a memory of their grandmother’s chest painted with bright colors. For others, it is an image of a large family that stays together despite distance and time. And for some, it is a hope that our descendants will also have their own tree of life. And it will stand strong. Because we passed on the roots to them. And light. And beauty. The article was prepared for publication as part of the coverage of the All-Ukrainian cultural and artistic project “Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage”. Read more about Vanda Orlova’s author’s cultural and artistic project “Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage” on the website of the organizer, the first Ukrainian art agency Art Fine Nation, an official partner of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
According to the results of the competitive selection of paintings of the art project «Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage» My painting «Tree of Life. Seven Generations“ took part in the Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“ of the project ”Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage», which takes place in Kyiv at the Maria Zankovetska Museum from 22.06 to 05.07.2025
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
Maria Zankovetska Museum
Maria Zankovetska Museum
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
The Second Final Exhibition ”Creativity and Taste of Generations“
«The Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage” is an art project designed to revive, preserve, and popularize the multifaceted cultural heritage of Ukraine. Four art contests give every artist the opportunity to discover and demonstrate their creative potential at exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad. The result of the contests will be a unique collection of paintings that reflects the beauty and richness of Ukrainian culture, telling the story of Ukraine — its culture, values and traditions — through the language of art. 5 conceptual art exhibitions that will attract the attention of the public both in Ukraine and abroad. They are all connected by a single idea — to show that Ukrainian cultural heritage is alive and relevant. The project «Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage» consists of four art competitions with final exhibitions and the final exhibition «Mosaic of Ukraine’s Heritage». Each art competition consists of two thematic smaltas (parts of the «mosaic») and is held within a specific timeframe. Each smalt is dedicated to a single topic of Ukrainian traditional culture. Following the results of each competition, an exhibition of the created works is held, and at the end of 2025, the final exhibition of the entire cycle is held. Each exhibition is accompanied by a competitive selection of paintings created by its participants! Project organizer — First Ukrainian art agency Art Fine Nation
One of my paintings «A big pain. After the air raid«, which is a symbol of indestructibility, will be exhibited in the exhibition hall of the Central House of Artists of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine from 19.06 to 6.07 at the All-Ukrainian cultural and artistic project ’X All-Ukrainian Triennial of Painting«.
I am incredibly pleased that my work will complement the exposition of the cultural and artistic project, which features the best works of art by Ukrainian painters created in 2022-2025. I am grateful to the NUAU Exhibition Directorate for the opportunity to showcase my artworks to connoisseurs.
The painting continues my collection ‘War in Ukraine’. And the main theme in it is the hope for dawn after a long, long night, which is evidenced by the flowers ready to blossom on the trees and a blossoming tulip on the ruins of a house. And the first rays of the rising sun are already visible on the walls of the empty and ruined houses.
A little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom… Close-up
A little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom… Close-up
A little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom… Close-up. Signature of the artist
I painted this picture in the format of an art battle organized by the Ukrainian art association Art Fine Nation. The competition was called ‘Paint me a poem by Lina Kostenko’. The artists chose a poem from those proposed by Art Fine Nation and an art pair of artists who chose the same poem. Then, for 10 days, the pair of artists painted paintings (each of them their own) on the theme of the poem. The paintings then took part in a selection competition, and the winners will be presented at the collective exhibition in Kiev.
A little more, a little more – and the flowers on the trees will bloom, and the will fly around like a rhizomes’ dream.
War paints watercolour paintings with blood. Its palette – is the ashes of fires.
Its landscape – is the ruins of neighbourhoods. Empty streets are faded pastels.
Unless some tulips suddenly sprout somewhere through the groaning rubble.
Lina Kostenko
NOT FOR SALE
TITLE: A little more — and the flowers on the trees will bloom… COLLECTION: War in Ukraine YEAR: 2025 ARTWORK TYPE: Original Art/One of a kind DIMENSIONS: 70 х 50 sm TECHNIQUES: Acrylic RELATED THEMES: City landscape, War SUPPORT OR SURFACE: Canvas on the canvas-stretcher FRAMING: No
Today, 28.05.2025, I, Yulia Kovalska and my colleague, an artist from Vinnitsa, Olesya Hetman start the Art Battle organised by Art Fine Nation on Lina Kostenko’s poem ‘A little more, a little more…’.
Art Battle is an artistic competition among Ukrainian artists with the title ‘Draw me a poem by Lina Kostenko’. The theme is visualisation of Lina Kostenko’s poems.
Artists choose a poem they want to visualise, choose a partner with whom they will compete and in 10 days they have to paint a picture, which is then exhibited at the competition.
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA opened on the Day of Kiev in the Central Park of Culture and Recreation of Kiev near the Arch of Freedom of the Ukrainian people. The exposition will last till the 10th of August. Three of my paintings took part in this festival, of which one (Destroyed house in Dnipro. Horror of the war) was the winner.
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
Diploma of winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
The exhibition of the winners of the XV International Art Festival MALUY.UA
This is the 12th stage of the art marathon ‘War Generation’, which is part of MALUJ.UA.WAR — a united large-scale cultural project in Ukraine, which has been going on continuously since the first week of the full-scale invasion and is planned to be held until the Victory.
Chamomile is a symbol of purity and tenderness, a drop of sunshine on earth, a smile of nature, a gentle embodiment of summer and joy. You can write a thousand more such epithets and still they will not convey all the charm, purity and, at the same time, simplicity of this flower. That is what I have tried to depict in this painting. And besides it is still the main flower on which guess on the beloved (loves-not-loves), tearing off the petals. And the proof of love can be found in the only surviving petal of the chamomile, after all the others have been torn off.
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase. Close-up
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase
Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase. Interior: liviing-room with a picture on the wall
Available for sale from Dec2025
TITLE: Chamomiles. Little suns in a vase YEAR: 2025 ARTWORK TYPE: Original Art/One of a kind DIMENSIONS: А3 (30х42cm) TECHNIQUES: Oil RELATED THEMES: Flowers SUPPORT OR SURFACE: Canvas FRAMING: No CATALOGUE N: Kovalska130