On August 9, 2025, a special, almost festive atmosphere reigned within the ancient walls of the Hetmanate Museum in Podil. Artists, art lovers, cultural figures, and concerned Kyiv residents gathered here to open the collective painting exhibition “When Summer Blooms,” which became another bright page in the large-scale art project “Soul of Ukraine.”
The project has a noble goal: to support our defenders who are defending the country’s borders on the front lines. The idea of combining creativity and charity belongs to the talented Ukrainian artist, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, and organizer of the event, Ellen ORRO. She brought together artists from Ukraine and Azerbaijan to turn the vernissage into an event where art inspires and goodness has a practical dimension.
Yevheniia Karatsuba, director of the Hetman Museum, greeted the guests and artists with warm words: “I sincerely congratulate you on this bright, blossoming exhibition, which seems to prolong summer in our hearts. We are extremely grateful that in such difficult times you find the strength and inspiration to create beauty. Among the many works, Ms. Ellen ORRO managed to select those that create real magic, and today we can feel this magic in the halls of the museum.”
Twenty-three artists joined this charity exhibition, including Ellen ORRO, People’s Artist of Ukraine Valery Franchuk, Pavel Sharko, Viktor Veres, Iryna Vyshtaliuk, Alla Osadcha, Ayla Rajabova, Olga Galaguz, Olena Pogrebnyak, Nina Litvin, Volodymyr Budas, Danylo Nozdria, Natalia Zakrevska-Anikina, Hanna Kharchenko-Balamadji, Lidiia Nechyporchuk, Ivanna Moskovka, Natalia Vashchuk, Tetiana Zaslavska, Veniamin Zaslavskyi, Tetiana Artemova, Natalia Anokhina, Iryna and Mykola Sverguny.
The paintings impress with their variety of techniques and subjects: Ukrainian fields, blooming fields, endless fields under the blue sky, colorful bouquets, rivers glistening in the sun. All this is the living breath of Ukraine, its beauty, tenderness, and strength.
Ellen ORRO emphasized in her speech: “Each new exhibition is a kind of art therapy. For some, it is an encounter with beauty, for others, it is an opportunity to express their inner world through the language of painting. The world knows that the soul of Ukraine is calm, gentle, and generous with goodness. We never seek to impose our truth, but at the same time, every Ukrainian man and woman has a strong and unbreakable soul. This is our artistic position. We create to support our defenders, to remind ourselves and the world what we are fighting for.”
An important part of the event was a charity lottery, with paintings provided by the exhibition participants themselves. Everyone had the opportunity not only to enjoy art, but also to contribute to supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All funds raised will be donated to the reconstruction of the hospital base.
The fashion component of the vernissage was no less impressive: during the opening, models demonstrated jewelry by Ukrainian designer and folk artist Svitlana Golovchuk.
At the end of the evening, Ellen ORRO presented each artist with a thank-you note for their personal contribution to the cultural renewal of Ukraine and for providing works for the charity initiative.
The exhibition “When Summer Blooms” will run until August 28, 2025, at the Hetmanate Museum (Kyiv, 16-B Spaska Street, Podil).
The paintings in the exhibition are available for purchase.
The organizers cordially invite Kyiv residents and visitors to attend this event, as it is not only an encounter with art, but also an opportunity to make a real contribution to a shared victory.
The exhibition project featured works by artist Iryna Vyshtaliuk, whose paintings combine subtle sensuality and a research-based approach: the image becomes not just a form, but a way of conveying an inner state—in the breathing of space, in the silence between lines, in the air—like a pause between words.
Her paintings are deeply personal, sincere expressions that touch the viewer’s soul, evoking recognition, emotion, and silence.
The artist’s works are in private collections in Germany, the USA, Canada, Poland, and also adorn the homes of Ukrainians. Her works are presented in the Central House of Artists in Kyiv, in the fund of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, municipal galleries, and at numerous exhibitions.
Her paintings are distinguished by their honesty and light tone — it is these qualities that have led the artist to participate in more than 30 national and international exhibitions, as well as to create personal exhibitions. Iryna Vyshtaliuk’s artistic career has been marked by her admission to the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
The artist creates in order to give the viewer a moment of silence, joy, and trust in life; she has a deep inner conviction that the viewer should not only see the painting but also feel how it breathes.
