KIRBLA MOTIIV / INVISIBLE PALACE _ UKRAINIAN GROUPS LAUNCH INVISIBLE PAVILION IN VENICE TO HONOR ARTISTS KILLED BY RUSSIA  

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Ukrainian groups launch Invisible Pavilion in Venice to honor artists killed by Russia

Thursday, 7 May 2026, 10:57 

Activists staged a silent public campaign in Venice to protest Russia’s cultural return. The posters point to a database documenting more than 270 Ukrainian creators lost to war. 

As reported by the World Congress of Ukrainians on Facebook. 

Before the opening of the Venice Biennale, the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Italy launched the “Invisible Pavilion” campaign, dedicated to Ukrainian cultural figures who died as a result of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The World Congress of Ukrainians published the announcement of the initiative on its Facebook page.

As the organizers emphasize, this campaign serves as a response to Russia’s return to the cultural scene and as a reminder to the world about Ukrainian artists whose voices were cut short by the war. 

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“Cancelled, because Russia killed the artist”

– World Congress of Ukrainians 

In Venice, activists placed posters on streets and squares in the style of announcements of cultural events, but each poster is overlaid with inscriptions and reflects the tragic reality.

On the posters there is also a QR code that leads to a monitoring site of losses among Ukrainian artists; it was created by Ukrainian PEN at the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia, and the database now contains over 270 names.

Among the figures mentioned by the campaign are writer Victoria Amelina, artist Nika Kozhushko, poet Volodymyr Vakulenko, director Ihor Malakhov, and other Ukrainian cultural figures.

Their lives were cut short by the war, and the international community must remember this, the organizers emphasize. 

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“There are signs of criminal offenses, provided for in Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ‘Threat or violence against a law enforcement officer’ and Article 194 ‘Deliberate destruction or damage of property.’ The respective messages have been sent to the National Police”

– press service 

In this context, it also emerged that the opening ceremony is planned for May 9, and the reaction of the world community and EU representatives is growing ahead of the official start of the biennale.

In particular, European Commissioner for Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef stated that he does not plan to attend the opening due to the organizers’ decision to allow the return of the Russian pavilion and the participation of representatives of the Russian authorities.

It was also reported that Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli chose not to participate in the opening in protest against the Russian pavilion at this event.

The opening ceremony of the 61st Venice Biennale will take place on May 9, and the event highlights the context of politically sensitive decisions in the global art world.

Context of the Event and Its Significance for Ukrainian Culture

The Invisible Pavilion campaign underscores the role of Ukrainian artists during the war and reminds the world of their heritage and losses.

Against this backdrop, Ukrainian creativity continues to attract the attention of international audiences and serves as an example of how culture can become a platform for discussing important political issues.