PRESS: Major contemporary artists sell prints to aid Artists at Risk in Ukraine by Wallpaper

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, each day has brought a new, devastating development. Thousands have died, millions have fled, and endless uncertainty remains.

Many around the world who are not currently at risk are seeking ways to help those who are. Among them is an informal group of international contemporary artists who have banded together to offer emergency support to their peers caught up in the spiralling humanitarian crisis initiated by Russia’s offensive.

Nothing to Be Gained Here. © Julian Schnabel, 2022

A new solidarity print sale featuring leading artists has been organised by Johannesburg-born artist Adam Broomberg in partnership with Artists at Risk (AR), a non-profit organisation operating at the intersection of human rights and the arts.

For the initiative’s first round, each artist has donated a piece of art as an open edition print that will be available to purchase until 30 April 2022 via the Artists at Risk website. Each edition is priced at €200 per edition, with all proceeds from sales helping to facilitate emergency travel, shelter and financial support to enable affected artists in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and beyond to find safety. A special edition box containing all 70 prints is available for €14,000.

Featured contemporary artists include Hito Steyerl, Pierre Huyghe, Nan Goldin, Isaac Julien, Thomas Struth, Tacita Dean, Rosemarie Trockel, Luc Tuymans, Elizabeth Peyton, Thomas Demand, Matthew Barney, Jeremy Deller, Laure Prouvost, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Lisa Brice, Julian Schnabel, Camille Henrot, Subodh Gupta, Sam Durant, Fiona Banner, Anne Imhof, Cyprien Gaillard, and Thomas Hirschhorn.

The Tower, 2015 (about a 3D company in Kharkiv), © Hito Steyerl, 2022

The pieces on offer are wide-ranging in subject matter and media. Some specifically reference Ukraine, such as Hito Steyerl’s The Tower, 2015 (about a 3D company in Kharkiv) and Cyprien Gaillard’s poignant (Untitled, Kyiv), 2005.

Artists at Risk (AR), is a non-profit human rights advocacy organisation working to provide artists from Ukraine and in other crises with emergency resources, travel aid, and residencies. AR is at the forefront of the refugee crisis as it affects artists and cultural workers. It is focused on helping artists to safety in nearby countries and placing them in welcoming communities. All artwork purchases will directly benefit artists fleeing war and persecution. §