Ukrainian artists working with Petrykivka painting are invited to take part in the international exhibition Wings Born on the Journey, taking place in Peterborough, UK, in November 2026. The open call is also open to artists creating contemporary interpretations of the Ukrainian decorative painting tradition. Applications are open until 30 September.
The exhibition will run throughout November at Compass Charity in Peterborough city centre. The UK-based bilingual magazine Maiak | Lighthouse Media CIC, in partnership with Luledielli Art Atelier in Kosovo, and Ukrainian Diaspora Aid, based in the UK, is organising it.
Wings Born on the Journey will explore how artists use traditional Ukrainian decorative art to reflect on cultural identity, belonging, memory, transformation, adaptation and new beginnings.
The project aims to introduce Ukrainian decorative art to a wider international audience while showing Petrykivka not simply as a tradition to be preserved, but as a living art form that continues to develop and acquire new meanings in the contemporary world.
What is Petrykivka painting?
Petrykivka painting is a distinctive form of Ukrainian decorative art that originated in the village of Petrykivka in the Dnipro region of Ukraine.
Traditionally used to decorate homes and household objects, Petrykivka is particularly recognisable for its elaborate floral compositions, leaves, berries and birds. Artists create these elements using characteristic brushstrokes and painting techniques passed down through generations.
The tradition is closely connected to nature and everyday life, but it has continued to evolve. Contemporary artists now use Petrykivka techniques on paper, canvas, clothing and other materials, combining traditional motifs with their own artistic language and experiences.
In 2013, Petrykivka decorative painting was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising the tradition and the knowledge and skills passed from generation to generation.
Author of paintings: Liudmyla Makei
What will the exhibition explore?
Artists are invited to submit works exploring one or more of the exhibition’s themes: personal transformation and change; forced displacement and adaptation; cultural memory and identity; resilience, recovery and new beginnings; and contemporary interpretations of Ukrainian decorative traditions.
The exhibition is particularly interested in how a traditional art form can respond to contemporary experiences, including migration and the creation of a new sense of home.
Who can take part?
The open call is aimed at Ukrainian artists working with traditional Petrykivka painting techniques as well as those developing contemporary interpretations of the tradition.
Artists can submit between one and ten original works. The recommended size ranges from A4 to 100 × 100 cm, and series of works are also welcome.
All submitted works should be exhibition-ready and presented to a high standard. Each work should have a clear artistic concept, and applicants must provide a high-quality photograph of every piece.
To apply, artists must provide photographs of their work, the title of each piece, the technique and dimensions, and a short description of up to 100 words. Applicants should also include a short biography and their current country of residence.
Key dates
Applications are open until 30 September 2026.
The curatorial selection process will take place during September and October, with selected artists informed in October.
The exhibition Wings Born on the Journey will take place throughout November 2026 at Compass Charity in Peterborough, UK.
Artists interested in taking part can submit their application using the form below:
