What’s Going On

During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, I was deeply affected by the suffering of Ukrainians and villainizing of Russians, as my mother was born in Russia and has family ties in Ukraine. As an artist, I felt a calling to respond to the conflict through creating art as a way to help and honor the resilience of Ukraine. Artistic expression is so utterly personal, and it has a restorative power of healing through expressing emotion. Art is also a powerful medium for enacting change, provoking reflection, and making the world a better, richer place.

I painted the side profile of a distressed yet resilient woman wearing a Slavic crown against the background of the Ukrainian flag. The painting is influenced by Pablo Picasso's "Guernica", a moving indictment against war based on the bombing of Guernica in 1937, and it’s titled “What’s Going On”, inspired by Marvin Gaye’s powerful political song.

I raffled off the painting, raising almost $3000, and donated all the money raised to UNICEF to support Ukrainian families. The painting was also brought to local parishes in my community as part of prayer services for peace in Ukraine. Being able to generate such an impact not only locally, but globally, has given me confidence in my ability to make a difference as an individual.