Naïve My Love 2026: GUNIA and Assouline Launch Ukrainian Folk Art Book
GUNIA Project and Assouline launched Naïve My Love: Ukrainian Folk Art of the 20th Century, a 304-page publication, at Maison Assouline in London on Sept 17, 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Naïve My Love: Ukrainian Folk Art of the 20th Century launched at Maison Assouline in London on September 17, 2026.
- The 304-page book compiles 20th-century Ukrainian naïve art from museums and private collections.
- Collaboration with Assouline took over three years, including about a year of intensive book production.
- Featured works span paintings, textiles, carvings, and embroidery preserved across Ukraine.
On September 17th, 2026, GUNIA Project and publisher Assouline marked the London launch of Naïve My Love: Ukrainian Folk Art of the 20th Century at Maison Assouline on Piccadilly, bringing a visual history of Ukrainian folk art to an international audience.
Developed by GUNIA Project founders Maria Gavryliuk and Natalia Kamenska, the 304-page publication brings together 20th-century Ukrainian naïve art sourced from museum collections, archives, private collections, and the expertise of local researchers and custodians.
Kyiv-based curator and publisher Lidia Lykhach curated and selected the works, while Ukrainian journalist Anna Lodygina authored the accompanying texts. The publication traces a visual culture developed outside academic institutions while examining its ties to Ukrainian folk traditions and the European avant-garde.
“The idea developed naturally from the research that had already become fundamental to GUNIA. At a certain point, we understood that the material was much larger than the brand itself and deserved an independent international platform.”
Translating that extensive research into an international publication required a collaborative network stretching far beyond the GUNIA brand. The partnership with Assouline developed over more than three years, encompassing approximately a year of intensive work on the book, backed by numerous museums, foundations, and cultural organizations.
Publishing this comprehensive volume of Ukrainian folk art through Assouline in 2026 serves as a vital archival milestone, especially given that certain historical sites and artworks—such as Polina Raiko's house paintings in Oleshky—have faced destruction due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Compiling these scattered pieces into an international edition helps safeguard vulnerable cultural heritage against loss.
The selected works featured in the book span multiple mediums, including painting, textiles, carving, and embroidery preserved across the country. The project was initiated by GOGOLA media agency and supported by Nova Ukraine, Bilokin Initiative, Sushko Philanthropy, Jorge & Maria Romo Foundation, Tokarev Foundation, ALIPH Foundation, xpate, and valesto.
Source: designboom
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