A contemporary art fair in Kyiv is offering Ukrainians a space to find comfort and resilience through art, even as the war with Russia continues. The Art Kyiv fair, titled This is Normal, features hundreds of works from Ukrainian artists, deliberately avoiding direct references to the conflict.
“Holding the event during wartime means not waiting for a better moment, but working with reality as it is,” said Anna Avetova, the fair’s director. “In this context, art does not stand apart from life — it helps make sense of the present, preserve cultural continuity, and lay the groundwork for the future.”
The fair, held at the Lavra Gallery, aims to boost the domestic art market, which suffered during the pandemic and the war. Organisers say it provides a platform for artists to sell works and for visitors to detach from the tragedy. “Art is a place where the everyday doesn’t exist,” said ceramic artist Tala Vovk, who is exhibiting for the first time.
For artist Yuriy Vatkin, painting helped him survive the early weeks of the invasion when he was trapped near Kharkiv. His works, like many at the fair, focus on abstract forms and vivid colours rather than war. “Art is one of the things that keeps us human,” Avetova said. “It sustains us and warms our soul when things are very hard.”
Visitor Anna Domashchenko said the fair reminds her that life is full of colour, even in difficult times. “Sometimes you wonder whether it’s appropriate… but these are exactly the things that inspire you,” she said.
