D.C.'s Ukraine House auctions paintings to help war victims

Ukraine House, a center in Kalorama for Ukrainian cultural events, has expanded its mission in recent months to support the country in the ongoing war against Russia.

• If you’re looking to support humanitarian aid, Ukraine House is the place to be.

Driving the news: The three-story, colonial-style brick house at 2134 Kalorama Rd. NW is currently hosting an exhibit of artwork from Ukraine that's being auctioned off.

• Ukraine House director Marianna Falkova told Axios that most paintings have been auctioned already, with money raised going toward the treatment of families who lost their legs in the war-torn eastern city of Kramatorsk.
• The center is also helping collect donations for United24, a charity platform launched by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

What’s happening: There are 18 paintings still up for auction online until Tuesday.

• The recent works were donated by the Kyiv-based gallery Sofia-A and its owner, Maksym Melnyk.

• Other auctioned works include graphic art designed in Ukraine and printed in the U.S., in addition to artwork by children who drew uplifting images about their hometowns.

Flashback: After the Russian invasion began, Falkova tells Axios that she placed a donation box outside the house gates, where neighbors in solidarity had already begun placing letters and flowers.

• The center’s efforts grew to a Venmo account and then into full-blown auctions, with support from artists and galleries donating works.
• The project also aimed to preserve Ukrainian artwork amid the conflict.

What they’re saying: “Our audience is both Ukrainian and American,” Falkova told Axios on a tour of the house this week. “We even created a notion for this concept: Ukrainians by birth — that’s a native Ukrainian or in some generation were in Ukraine. And Ukrainians by choice: these are Americans who come to us every event, who support us.”

Get involved: Ukraine House also hosts concerts, open houses, and other events that are posted on Facebook.

• The center will host a concert tonight in support of the Ukrainian army. The event is for ages 18+ as it will feature songs about wartime, and will fund bulletproof vests, helmets, first aid kits, and other resources for the army.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the artwork recently auctioned off went to families who lost their legs in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, not to United24.