War Posters from Ukraine—Pictoric

War Posters from Ukraine is a poignant reflection of Ukrainians’ fears, feelings, and pain during the war, and aims to inspire global demands for peace and justice.

This exhibition is a collaboration with the Ukrainian association Pictoric Illustrators Club. It is an exhibition of protest art created in the aftermath of Russia’s devastating full-scale assault on Ukraine. Founded by Olena Staranchuk, Oleh Gryshchenko, and Anna Sarvira in 2014, Pictoric brings together artists, graphic designers and illustrators, organizes workshops and presents Ukrainian creators abroad to elevate Ukrainian art to an international level. War Posters from Ukraine is a poignant reflection of Ukrainians’ fears, feelings, and pain during the war, and aims to inspire global demands for peace and justice.

Following the exhibition, the posters were auctioned off, with proceeds going to artists working for the Ukrainian defense. // www.supportukraine-pic.com

About Pictoric

Pictoric is a Ukrainian Illustrators Club, an association of illustrators, graphic designers, and visual artists committed to creative expression, originality, and aesthetic excellence. Our mission is to promote Ukrainian illustration internationally as a powerful artistic and cultural force.

Since 2014, Pictoric has organized exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and major collaborative projects in Ukraine and abroad. Notable initiatives include Prominent Ukrainians, Yellow & Blue, Face to Face: Human Rights in the Digital Age, and our regular programming at the Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many of our affiliated artists responded immediately by creating protest illustrations that reflected the emotional and physical reality of war. Some worked from bomb shelters; others contributed from abroad. Pictoric launched a dedicated website to showcase these works as a visual chronicle of lived experience and collective resistance. To date, it features over 250 artworks by more than 30 Ukrainian artists and continues to grow.

We believe illustration is a vital tool for communication between artist and society. A single image can convey emotion, nuance, and urgency more powerfully than words. Unlike journalistic photography, illustration invites interpretation, empathy, and reflection. These artworks, created in crisis, serve not only as protest but as historical testimony.

We feel the support of the global community in many ways, from rallies to humanitarian aid. But we worry the world will grow weary of the war. That’s why we continue to share these images: to keep attention focused, to document what is happening, and to make sure the reality of Ukraine today is not forgotten tomorrow.

Thank you for standing with us.

—The Pictoric Team