The Sunflower Dreams art exhibition will be held in Port Hadlock, Puget Sound, Washington, from January 11 to February 15. The exhibition features works of art created by Ukrainian children in therapeutic art sessions as part of the healing process after experiencing war trauma.
This was reported Ukraine Defense Support.
“Each work of art is a small piece of a child’s soul and reflects their dreams, memories and hopes,” the organizers say.
The exhibition is reportedly being held at the Bayside Gallery at the Old Alcohol Plant Inn in Port Hadlock. Visitors can see original works by Ukrainian children, as well as purchase high-quality prints and individual originals brought directly from Ukraine.
It is worth noting that the artworks are created in partnership with Ukrainian artists Natalia and Justyna Pavlyuk from Lviv. The paintings are painted by Ukrainian children during art therapy workshops, which are held 2-4 times a week in Lviv.
“Visitors are often amazed by the beauty, talent and resilience reflected in these works – paintings full of dreams, joy and love for family and home,” the organizers note.
The Sunflower Dreams project is an international non-profit initiative implemented by a team of volunteers from different countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Ukraine, the UK, Canada, the USA and others. All of them have served in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.
“The artworks are created by children who have experienced traumatic experiences in Ukraine. During art therapy sessions, they can dream, remember and hope,” the initiators emphasize.
The project is co-founded by David Alley, a citizen of the UK and the US, who lives in Seattle, and Kateryna Bolinova from the Czech Republic. The first Sunflower Dreams exhibition was held in April 2024 in Prague. Since then, the project has organized about 30 exhibitions in 10 countries around the world. The largest of them were held at the Scottish Parliament in January 2025 and at Portsmouth Cathedral in England in February 2025.
It is also specified that the funds raised during the exhibition in Port Hadlock will be directed to support children's art programs in Ukraine, in particular in partnership with the organization Hugs From Friends. Some of the works of Ukrainian artist Natalia Pavliuk will be put up for auction, as well as a copy of the book “Women of Ukraine” by photojournalist Christopher Briscoe.
The project also aims to draw attention to the mental health issues of children affected by war. According to the Olena Zelenska Foundation, about 44% of Ukrainian children have symptoms of PTSD, while some studies indicate even higher rates.
Photo: David Elley
Author: Inna Mikhno