Sunflower Dreamers exhibition

"The Sunflower Dreams Project" is a series of exhibitions in the European Union, the United Kingdom and North America. It is created and supported exclusively by a team of multinational volunteers, all of whom have served in Ukraine, since the full-scale war started in 2022. 

As the war in Ukraine continues, we share the artwork of Ukrainian children with the world. Each piece tells a story, a glimpse into their resilience and hope. Our goal is to support as many children as possible, providing them an outlet for healing through art.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, millions have been displaced. Among those helping are Nataliia Pavliuk, an art lecturer, and her daughter, Yustyna, a Master’s student in Architectural Design. They bring art to traumatized children in hospitals, orphanages, and bomb shelters, offering moments of peace amid the chaos. Visitors to the Sunflower Dreams exhibitions are often moved by the children’s talent, resilience, and hope. Almost three years later, the need remains urgent. A recent study by the Olena Zelenska Foundation reports that 44% of Ukrainian children show signs of PTSD, with other estimates as high as 88%. 

And that’s why the Pavliuks call their programme: “Art Which Saves”. 

This ongoing programme provides art healing for traumatized, injured, orphaned, and displaced children. Nataliia and Yustyna conduct multiple sessions each week, offering a creative refuge. As the war continues, class sizes have doubled, highlighting the growing need for this support. 

"A child’s art is the purest form of expression, there is nothing between the child’s heart and the paintbrush.” - Nataliia Pavliuk, Lecturer of Art, Lviv Polytechnic University