If you step outside the new Wellness Room in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, you’ll find a quiet but powerful exhibition that is hard to ignore. The walls are lined with artwork created by Ukrainian children—children who have spent over a year witnessing the devastating effects of war firsthand. The display features work by artists ranging from ages four to 16, each piece capturing the young artists’ personal experiences, fears and hopes in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion. It’s a rare, raw glimpse into what kids halfway around the world have endured and are still enduring.
These are vibrant drawings, yet they tell stories of unimaginable hardship. Each piece has a simple caption: the title, the artist’s first name and age. Many of these kids are younger than us college students, but their art holds the weight of lived experience that few of us can truly understand. Some drawings are unsettling, with images of bombed buildings and families split apart. Others show resilience, with symbols like sunflowers, Ukrainian flags and messages of peace woven into the scenes.
In addition to the physical display, there’s also an online gallery in collaboration with the SJSU School of Information, offering more artwork and background about the project. This virtual gallery allows us to explore more deeply and understand the context behind the pieces. Seeing the kids’ work online alongside their personal stories adds another layer to the experience—it’s one thing to see the art but another to realize the circumstances in which it was created.
The exhibition also invites us to respond to these pieces. On a small card, there is a QR code for an anonymous survey where you can share your thoughts and feelings. The university is collecting these responses to see how children’s art depicting war impacts a US audience. The survey allows us to process our reactions to this exhibit and adds a collaborative aspect, letting Fairfield students connect with global issues in a way that feels meaningful.
This exhibit isn’t just here to show us what’s happening in Ukraine; it’s here to create a space for empathy. Having this artwork in the Wellness Room area feels intentional—like a quiet invitation to reflect on the complex emotions that come with witnessing a reality that’s worlds away from ours but still deeply human. Walking away from the exhibit, there is a renewed sense of gratitude and a reminder of the power art has to connect, heal and amplify voices that need to be heard.
All photos contributed by Emma Dobrovich
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