Children’s art reveals the realities of war

Children’s drawings hang across the quiet walls of Buley Library— but instead of flowers or family portraits, they show tanks, broken homes and children running from explosions. 

The exhibit, Children Draw War, Not Flowers, gives students a glimpse into the world of Ukrainian children living through war. 

“Children’s art in particular is an incredible medium to tell stories,” Gosart said. “It doesn’t use words; it uses images that are not necessarily interpretations of the events, but depictions of them.” 

Curated by Ulia Gosart, a Ukrainian-born scholar, activist and alumna of the university, the exhibition showcases 60 pieces of art. 

Each creation was crafted by displaced children between the ages of 6 and 18 during Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Through their art, they capture a powerful blend of both trauma and perseverance — depicting moments of fear, pain and uncertainty intertwined with flashes of hope. 

The exhibition opened this month inside Buley Library as part of Gosart’s international project to preserve and share the art of children affected by war. 

It has traveled to several universities and cultural centers across the country, with each stop aiming to raise awareness and empathy among viewers. 

The library’s role in hosting the exhibition goes beyond simply displaying art. 

Director of Library Services, Amy Beth, said the goal was to connect the campus community to real-world humanitarian issues through creative expression. 

“This exhibit is depicting something that is current in time,” Beth said. “These children are still living through war, so I think it’s really important for the library to not only showcase phenomenal collection content but to be an agent of bringing people forward to explore their curiosity about current lived experiences.” 

Students who have visited the exhibition described it as emotional and thought-provoking. 

The colorful drawingsmany showing tanks, destroyed homes and Ukrainian flags- contrast sharply with their innocent medium, illustrating how children understand war through color and shape. 

Interdisciplinary studies major Justin Farmer, a junior, said that seeing these artworks in person, not only tugged at his heart, but also put things into perspective. 

“Seeing these drawings struck a chord,” Farmer said. “Something about the visuals of these youth drawing their understanding of what’s going on is just more tangible— something to grab onto.” 

The children’s artwork, first collected through a 2022 competition, reflects their experience of displacement and survival. 

Some drawings include short captions explaining what inspired them, while others speak for themselves through haunting details — buildings on fire, a sky filled with missiles and stars. 

The exhibition will remain on display in Buley Library’s main floor through the end of October. Students as well as the public are able to view the artwork during regular library hours. 

Gosart said she hopes the project encourages viewers to look beyond surface-level understanding and see the reality of war through the eyes of those who live it. 

“I’m happy that students could learn about the war from the primary sources,” Gosart said. “I understand that truth is really primary evidence and factual evidence rather than interpretations of the events by one side or the other.”