Ukraine: yesterday & today

Illustration is a powerful medium that brings important topics to light, shares experiences, and inspires hope for a better future. In children's books, it plays a crucial role in introducing young readers to the world, to art, and to culture. Ukrainian children’s illustration faces unique challenges — from portraying complex subjects such as war and displacement to sharing dreams and cultural values.

Ukrainian illustration has gained international recognition, with artists receiving awards and showcasing their work around the globe. Yet the history of Ukrainian illustration and the influential artists of the 20th century remain largely underappreciated internationally.

Ukrainian illustration blends folk art, classical European graphics, and contemporary global trends — a fusion that has shaped the visual identity of Ukrainian art. From the very beginning, leading Ukrainian artists approached children's illustration as a serious art form, creating works that embodied the finest artistic achievements of their time.

In the early 20th century, artists sought to merge local heritage with avant-garde ideas, with books playing a key role in spreading new visual concepts. The 1960s and 1970s became a vibrant period for Ukrainian illustration, combining modern artistic movements with national cultural traditions, especially folk art. Illustrators like Vasyl Perevalskyi and Mykola Storozhenko shaped the field and sustained a unique visual identity despite Soviet censorship. Ukrainian children’s illustration preserved national heritage and inspired future generations.

In the 1980s, Ukrainian illustration began shifting toward classical European artistic influences. The work of Halyna Halynska, for example, stands out for its refined and elegant graphic style.

Many Ukrainian illustrators are also professors at art academies, helping to preserve the traditions of Ukrainian illustration. Contemporary illustrators continue to blend the past with modern visual language — as seen in the works of Romana Romanyshyn, Andriy Lesiv, and others. These artists explore themes like banned Ukrainian literature and forgotten cultural heritage, offering new artistic narratives and compelling stories.

Modern illustrators such as Zhenya Polosina, Anna Ivanenko, and Mari Kinovych experiment with form, color, and texture, building on the legacy of 20th-century Ukrainian artists.

Despite the ongoing challenges of war and conflict, Ukraine’s illustration community remains vibrant, collaborative, and forward-looking — defined by resilience and creativity.