French Artist Honors Ukraine With Powerful Kyiv Exhibition
In a moving act of artistic solidarity, French visual artist Fanny Lechevalier has brought her thought-provoking exhibition, “In Memoriam. Reality Through Art,” to the heart of Kyiv, The Gaze reports.
Unveiled at the Museum of the History of Kyiv, the exhibition blends classical European art with the harsh realities of Russia’s war against Ukraine — becoming both a memorial and a call to action.
Organised by the Solidarity Charitable Foundation, which supports Ukraine’s reconstruction and war-affected communities, the exhibition is not just art for art’s sake. It’s a bold statement of unity, memory, and hope.
Lechevalier’s unique technique of photomontage superimposes war photography over classic European paintings, drawing powerful parallels between past tragedies and today’s resilience. The result? A visual conversation that transcends time and geography — bringing Ukrainian suffering and strength into focus for global audiences.
“This is a tribute to the Ukrainian people — to your courage, your freedom, and your determination to build something new even in the darkest times,” Lechevalier said at the opening. “You do not give up. You inspire far beyond the borders of Ukraine.”
Lechevalier’s visit to Kyiv is her first time in Ukraine — and deeply symbolic. Since 2022, she had been witnessing the war through images circulating in France. Now, she’s turning those images into a shared language, using art to “stop time and build a bridge” between Europe and Ukraine.
The exhibition has a mission beyond raising awareness: all proceeds from the sale of artworks will fund two major humanitarian projects — the launch of Kyiv’s first educational hub for the military, offering professional training and psychological support, and the expansion of the rehabilitation center at the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukrainian Art & Culture at Risk: Frontline Evacuations and Preservation Efforts