UFDA Expands Its Catalogue with New Works by Vladyslav Riaboshtan

The Ukrainian Fund of Digitized Art (UFDA) is proud to announce the latest addition to its growing catalogue—five large-scale works by the prominent Ukrainian artist Vladyslav Riaboshtan. These newly digitized paintings are now available for viewing in full resolution.

Vladyslav Riaboshtan has recently entered a significant new phase in his artistic journey, shifting his focus to large-format paintings that delve into themes of industrial and underground landscapes. 

In his paintings, the metro station becomes a central setting—one that has taken on new meaning since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is a location now considered the safest possible during massive shelling. The metro, once part of ordinary daily life—where people descended as part of their routine and used it simply as transportation—has become filled with fear and despair. It has turned into a shelter for slow anticipation of the future, an oasis of hope in a time of hardship.

The cold station floor, the abundance of belongings, blankets, and sometimes nothing at all—when there's no time to pack and you just run there during an attack. Eventually, the viewer finds themselves in the center, deciding whether it is safe to rise to the surface, even while seeing the bright light in the space above.

Painting, Acrylic, Canvas. Digitized by Digital Original Studio for UFDA

Born in 1996 in Dnipro, Ukraine, Vladyslav Riaboshtan grew up surrounded by the industrial landscapes that would later define his artistic focus. Factories, railways, and the unfinished metro system of his hometown left an enduring impression on his visual memory and creative instincts.

From 2012 to 2016, he studied graphic design at Dnipro Art College before earning both a bachelor's degree in easel and formal painting and a master’s degree in monumental painting at the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture in Kyiv.

Over the years, Riaboshtan's works have been featured in numerous exhibitions across Ukraine and internationally, with shows held in cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Lutsk, Graz, and Basel.

Riaboshtan’s art has always been closely tied to the industrial environment of his upbringing. Even after relocating, his desire to document and preserve these landscapes persisted. His work serves as a visual archive of the gritty, often-overlooked spaces that shape urban life—spaces that have become emotionally charged by the realities of war.

Before the war in Ukraine began, the artist worked on a series of paintings dedicated to the subway. However, the concept of the project has shifted to portray the subway as a shelter, a safe zone from rockets and explosions. The war has changed the perception of many things for Ukrainians, and the artist seeks to show how this experience has altered both what he depicts and why.

With this new addition to the UFDA catalogue, we invite everyone to explore more of Vladyslav Riaboshtan’s works and delve deeper into the artist’s biography, discovering the experiences and influences that shape his unique visual perspective.