The Art of Resistance: Contemporary Art from Russia and Belarus

the Exhibition

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, artists in Russia and Belarus organized to opposed the war and campaign for peace. As their colleagues in Ukraine were killed, injured, forced to flee their homes and country, these Russian and Belarusian artists came under attack, including arrest, criminal prosecution, imprisonment, forced conscription, assault, expulsion from their jobs and institutions, and forced exile. In some cases, prominent artists were found dead or were killed in mysterious circumstances.

Artistst at Risk Connection (ARC), with the support of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, responded to the crisis for Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian artists by establishing Emergency and Resilience Funds, and between X 2022 and December 2024 provided X grants totaling over X euro.

While Ukrainian artists were largely welcomed in Europe, the United States and elsewhere, and often found supportive environments and opportunities, Russian and Belarusian artists against the war continue to be ostracized and marginalized in arts spaces and face great difficulty maintaining their careers and creative work. This exhibit platforms a number of these artists, to draw attention to the tremendous sacrifices and suffering they have experienced, and to platform their work and resistance.