Ukrainian Art Weeks in Rome
From 14 to 21 July 2026, Esperienza Europa – David Sassoli in Rome (Piazza Venezia, 6) hosted “L’arte come rinascita” (“Art as Rebirth”), a solo exhibition by the Ukrainian artist Olena Hromova, as part of the cultural initiative Ukrainian Art Weeks.
It was a painterly manifesto declaring that even after the harshest winter, spring always comes. Rome — the Eternal City, which over the centuries has witnessed the decline and rebirth of so many eras — provided a remarkable backdrop for the exhibition. Here, amid the grandeur of history, contemporary Ukrainian art addressed Italian and international audiences in a language everyone understands without translation: the language of flowers, light and harmony.
Flowers that spoke of strength of spirit
Floral canvases formed the core of the exhibition. Yet Olena Hromova’s flowers were far more than striking still lifes: they were dynamic portraits of human emotions and states of mind. Each petal unfolding on the canvas in the sunlight symbolised the fragility of existence and, at the same time, its extraordinary, almost stubborn strength. Together they revealed life’s remarkable capacity to renew itself, whatever trials it faces.
“Rebirth always begins within. It is the moment when, despite the darkness all around, the first flower of hope blooms once more in the soul”, the artist remarked.
Landscapes as space and horizon
The artist’s landscapes provided a harmonious counterpoint to the lavish blooms. They opened up a sense of space and gave viewers the feeling of solid ground beneath their feet. If the flowers in the exhibition embodied sensibility, the landscapes became symbols of memory, of roots, and of a calm horizon over which a new sun is bound to rise. They set the rhythm of the whole exhibition and served as a reminder that beauty is everywhere, if only we pause to look.
Why was the exhibition worth a visit?
“L’arte come rinascita” was not just an art event but a therapeutic space for anyone seeking inspiration and inner renewal:
- Beauty as a response: in times of instability, creating and contemplating beauty became a way of preserving our humanity and inner peace.
- A rich, sunlit palette: Olena Hromova’s works were full of vibrant colour and light, capable of lifting anyone out of emotional fatigue.
- A cultural bridge: the project showed the world a contemporary Ukraine that is bright, refined, life-affirming and profound.
The exhibition invited visitors to immerse themselves in a world of painting where every canvas breathed life and served as a reminder that beauty has the power to bring about rebirth.
