City of Lions

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic–before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022–I was fortunate enough to live in L’viv, a city on the western side of the country. I was 24, and it was the first time I had enough money to travel outside the US. I didn’t realize until a few years later how impactful this experience would be.

During my time there (including a week bedridden with COVID-19), I spent most days observing the architecture and rich visual history of the city. When I was well enough, I regularly met with local artists to draw from the living model. They taught me a great deal about art and contributed to my thinking about how to design for Ukraine.

When the shock of war reverberated globally in 2022, I was confronted with a painful question: what use are my skills as a painter when homes are being destroyed in a single moment? While this thought debilitated me profoundly, somehow I managed to paint anyway, and created City of Lions, a collection of 14 works on paper in honor of Ukraine, and specifically L’viv, which to me represented independence and sovereignty. It was actually the first night that I stayed in Lviv that I was made aware of the Maiden Revolution. This was a political epiphany for me, as it has been for many, and I felt a deep sense of awe for Ukraine’s struggle for independence from Russia. Since then, I have been fortunate to be involved in efforts by the Utah Ukrainian Community on behalf of refugees.

Obviously, I am not an expert on the complexities of war, but living in L’viv gave me a deep personal connection to the country and its people. As an artist, I recognize the limits of my role, yet I believe art can be a quiet but powerful form of solidarity. I believe artists can play a crucial role by steadily influencing social thought toward positive growth. I urge those interested in my work to consider donating to the following organizations in support of Ukraine. Thank you.