Artem Yalanskiy’s Mriya Gallery

Spotlighting Ukrainian Art

By Lexi Wolf

Mriya Gallery, the first Ukrainian gallery in NYC, is on a mission to spotlight and celebrate the rich tapestry of Ukrainian art, artists, and culture. Founded by Artem Yalanskiy, the new creative space in TriBeCa is providing a platform for both established and up and coming Ukrainian artists to reach a global audience. The new art hub is also defined as a culturally responsible institution, with a portion of each purchase going towards charitable organizations in the region.

Mriya Gallery Hamptons Exhibition and VOLTA

This Labor Day Weeked, the gallery will host an exclusive event, showcasing a collection of Ukrainian art from Mriya alongside the private collection of Scott Baxter, which features renowned artists such as Warhol, Edwin, Rodin, Dali, Andoe, Mallet, Edwardo, and Collins. A highlight of the evening will be a charity auction benefiting the Bluecheck Foundation, which identifies, vets, and fast-tracks urgent financial support, and aids initiatives providing life-saving and other critical humanitarian work on the front lines of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Actor Liev Schriber is among the champions of the cause.  The auction will feature eight exceptional art pieces, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. Additionally, the private collection, valued at over $500,000, and the Ukrainian collection, valued at $100,000, will be available for sale, with 20% of the proceeds supporting the fund.

A Dream for a Better Future

Yalanskiy, a native Ukrainian, is a newcomer to the art scene, as he was originally in the field of sports management. However, when Russia invaded his home country in 2022, he, along with his classmates, sought out an innovative way to support those affected by the conflict. “Art speaks about the war in a subtle way,” he said. “We don’t talk about politics, rather we show the beauty of the art Ukrainians have created. The art draws attention to the country’s culture and will keep a conversation flowing so the cause remains relevant.” The name for the gallery, which translates to “dream” in the Ukrainian language, represents the dream of a peaceful future for Ukraine, as well as the resilience and resistance of the Ukrainian people. Additionally, the name is also a tribute to the largest aircraft in the world, which was destroyed by the Russian Army.

Quality and Quantity

Since its opening in the fall of 2023, Mriya has put on a new exhibition each month, a show of dedication that landed them a spot at the exclusive VOLTA Art Fair in New York City. “We had only been operating for eight months when we were selected for the fair. They were able to see the quality of the art we showcased on a regular basis,” Yalanskiy said. “It’s tough to open doors, but we decided to put a majority of time and effort into the gallery to really make an impact.” Their showing will be headlined with sculptures by Maria Kulikovska, a multimedia artist who creates paintings, drawings, and political performances, with the core of her work being her own body. The central element of the exhibition project from Mriya Gallery will be two sculptures of a pregnant woman by Kulikovska which were cast from a pregnant artist’s body made 5 months before the full-scale invasion by russia into Ukraine, under the skin of which are shells from the bullets from the war zone and flowers.VOLTA will take place in Avalon West Chelsea from September 4th to September 8th.

A major component of their prolific artistic output is Maria Manuylenko, who plays a vital role in the curation of each exhibition at Mriya. “She has been on advisory boards in museums, and she does consultations for many artists and galleries. She’s so passionate about art, and we’ve been so lucky to work with her.”  One of their latest shows, titled “SHERO,” served as a case study of the inherent power and beauty of women, blending elements of modern and traditional Ukrainian culture to explore the female experience through contrasting points of view, styles, genres, and techniques. This art collection was curated by Rukh Art Hub, which was co-founded by  Maynylenko. Rukh Art Hub is a creative initiative with a passion for art and goal of giving contemporary Ukrainian arts and culture a powerful voice.

A Creative Space

There are more than just exhibitions at Mriya, with Yalanskiy describing it to be more of a creative vessel. “We try to incorporate as much as we can into the space,” he explained. “We have hosted events for Ukrainian entrepreneurs and networking events for those who work in venture capital, technology, and creative fields. We also offer painting classes where people come together to relax, paint and enjoy conversations with one another. It is a calm and therapeutic ambience.”

mriya.nyc.com