ART KYIV 2025: Where Collections Are Born

From October 3 to 5, 2025, the Kyiv City Art Gallery "Lavra" will host the contemporary art fair Art Kyiv 2025. The event continues the tradition of the well-known "Kyiv Art Market," but now reaches a new level — the updated name symbolizes openness, progress, and the project’s global ambition. The Art Kyiv fair, launching under its new brand, will unite participants under the motto: "Where collections are born."

More than 20 leading galleries and art institutions from Ukraine, Poland, and the USA will take part, including Abramovych Art, Shum, Vakulenko Art Consulting, Snisarenko Gallery, Savchenko Gallery, Corpus Fine Art, Mironova Gallery, Tuzov Gallery, the auction house "Goldens," among others. The visual emblem of this autumn fair is the work Love (2025) by Odesa artist Stepan Ryabchenko. The piece will be presented as part of the exhibition, giving visitors the chance to see it in person.

Kyiv Art 2025 will be held in an Open Space format. Exhibitors are provided with over 1,000 m² for booths, special projects, and an educational program. Visitors will be able to view painting, graphics, sculpture, and photography.

"Having vast experience participating in art fairs abroad, I clearly understand how important it is now to create and hold such projects in Kyiv. This is not only a cultural event but also a symbol of our resilience and belief in the future. We are sincerely grateful to our defenders who protect Ukraine from the enemy and give us the opportunity to hold this fair, as well as to the Department of Culture of the Kyiv City State Administration for their support. This time, the fair is directed by Anna Avetova, a confident professional with extensive experience in organizing cultural events, and I want to thank the entire team for the tremendous organizational work that made Art Kyiv a reality," said Tetiana Mironova, founder and initiator of the fair and director of the municipal gallery "Lavra."

Collecting Futures — the parallel program of Art Kyiv 2025 running from October 3 to 5 — combines panel discussions, performances, workshops, and artist talks, creating a space for dialogue between artists, collectors, cultural institutions, and business. The program demonstrates how contemporary art shapes new scenarios for the future — from cultural resilience and educational practices to art investment and international cooperation.

"This season we aimed to create a program that brings together the most important aspects: high-quality exhibition projects, contemporary practices, and discussions that foster the development of the capital’s art scene. Our ambitious goals include significantly expanding the circle of participants, strengthening international presence, and creating a favorable environment for successful sales. We are putting in maximum effort and eagerly look forward to meeting visitors and gallery representatives," said Art Kyiv 2025 director Anna Avetova.

As part of the fair, on October 2 during the VIP opening, a large-scale neon installation by Odesa artist Stepan Ryabchenko, War and Peace. From the series Baby Talk (2018), will be presented. The dynamic light composition, measuring 8 × 4 meters, will appear in the fair’s space as a prophetic sense of time created by the artist before the full-scale war.

"For me, as the author, at the time of creating the work it was very important to feel the approach and connection between my childhood memories and my current state. Simply put, this work evokes, on the one hand, very warm childhood memories, and on the other — a conscious view of the dual theme of war and peace, which follows us throughout life in one form or another. And the third aspect is the boundary between these two components," commented the artist Stepan Ryabchenko.

Practical information

Address: Kyiv City Art Gallery "Lavra," 7b Lavrska St. (entrance from 9 Lavrskyi Lane), White Gate.

Opening hours:

• October 3: 11:00 – 19:00
• October 4: 11:00 – 19:00
• October 5: 11:00 – 16:00

VIP Opening: October 2, 19:00 (RSVP)

Admission from October 3: 200 UAH

Reduced ticket: 100 UAH

Combatants: free.