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October 5–November 18, 2023

Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards

Wednesday–Saturday | 12–5PM

Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers is an exhibition featuring images captured by sixteen Ukrainian artists and photojournalists who are documenting the invasion of their country by Russia. Organized for the U.S. by FotoFest and curated by Jan Pohribný and Igor Malijevský with support from the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers offers a firsthand, in-depth view into the efforts of Ukrainian citizens and military to preserve their sovereignty. 

In February 2022, the Russian military launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine to forcefully reclaim the former Soviet country as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “Greater Russia” annexation project. Putin’s stated plan was to launch a rapid full-scale military campaign in Ukraine and achieve a quick surrender. A conflict predicted to last three to five weeks has, over a year later, persisted due to the resistance, bravery, and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers presents the stories of the Ukrainian people through the photographs of sixteen Ukrainian photographers who are serving on the frontlines of the Russian invasion. These photographers are dedicated to showing the world the insurmountable costs and deadly reality of war. Several of the included photographers have received Pulitzer Prize, World Press Photo, and the Ukrainian State Badge of Honor recognition for their commitment to public service and breaking news journalism.

Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers includes photographs by Mstyslav Chernov, Pavlo Dorohoy, Andriy Dubchak, Yurko Dyachyshyn, Alexey Furman, Alena Grom,  Serhii Korovayny, Olga Kovalova, Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov, Evgeny Maloletka, Sergi Mykhalchuk, Mikhail Palinchak, Danilo Pavlov, Viacheslav Ratynskyi, and Alina Smutko.

The exhibition is divided into five discrete chapters: The Struggle, Mariupol, Flight, Life and Loss during War, and Hope, which in total contain 255 images that span from the documentation of destruction and loss of life to the ensuing Ukrainian refugee crisis and the strength and determination of Ukrainian citizens who have remained in their country to protect their homeland.

Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers is on view at FotoFest between October 5–November 18, 2023, with an opening reception taking place on October 5, 6–8PM. The exhibition is complemented by a series of free public programs including an exhibition tour, a contemporary classical concert co-presented with Musiqa, and a screening of Mstyslav Chernov’s acclaimed 2023 film 20 Days in Mariupol presented in partnership with the Holocaust Museum Houston and the Institute for Global Engagement at the University of Houston.

The exhibition is presented with support from the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers and the Association of Professional Photographers, Czech Republic.

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PUBLIC PROGRAMS

All exhibition-related public programs are free. All events are held at Silver Street Studios with the exception of the 20 Days in Mariupol screening, which is held at the Holocaust Museum Houston and co-presented with the Institute for Global Engagement at the University of Houston. Events requiring prior registration are indicated by asterisks. 


FIGHTING: UKRAINIAN WAR PHOTOGRAPHERS SPONSORS

PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH
Holocaust Museum Houston, HTX4UKRAINE, Musiqa, Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, Institute for Global Engagement at The University of Houston, and PBS Distribution.

EXHIBITION SUPPORT FOR FIGHTING: UKRAINIAN WAR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gay Block and Billie Parker, Blair Bouchier and Camile Cohn, Carola Herrin, Anna and Hal Holliday, Frazier King, Carol Kazmer and Paul Liffman, Wendy and Mavis Kelsey, Bryn Larsen, Sandy Jo Lloyd, Sandra Tirey and Jan R. Van Lohuizen, Anne Wilkes Tucker, and Wendy Watriss.

MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation, The Powell Foundation, Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, WWW Foundation, The Wortham Family Foundation, John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation, The Susan Vaughan Foundation, Judith and Gamble Baldwin, Wendy Watriss and Frederick Baldwin, FotoFest Board of Directors, contributors to the FotoFest Annual Fund, and donors who wish to remain anonymous.