Wings of Wonder: Artists Reimagine the Ukrainian Folk Tale presents contemporary artistic renderings of Ukrainian lore. The spirit of which is described by exhibiting artist Liliya Kostiyuk as “slightly humorous, somewhat adventurous, filled with imagination and rich in national color.”

In the spring of 2025, a larger version of this exhibition was organized and exhibited through the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts (ACUA). The artworks were sourced through a call to Ukrainian diasporic artists based in Alberta. A selection from that show will travel Alberta with TREX from September 2026 to February 2029.

Before the invention of writing, early stories—or folk tales—were passed down orally, evolving with each retelling. For generations, they have shared important cultural knowledge, instilled values, and provided entertainment. The beloved tales depicted in this exhibition carry on that tradition. For example, a digitally illustrated scene from Kolobok shows a little bun coming to life before venturing out into the world and attempting to avoid getting eaten. The painting Rooster and Hen captures the titular characters reuniting after greed nearly forced them apart.

The featured artworks and the folk tales they were inspired by provide a reflection of the spirit, wisdom, hopes, and dreams of Ukrainian people. In a time of conflict and foreign occupation, these expressions are a form of cultural preservation and soft resistance: we are here, still “rich in national color”, and cannot be erased.

Organized by Sierra Zukowski, TREX Southeast, Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in partnership with the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts

TREX Southeast is one of four regional partners delivering the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program — a provincial initiative dedicated to supporting Alberta artists and ensuring that all Albertans have access to visual art in their communities. By bringing professionally curated exhibitions to venues like schools, libraries, healthcare centres, and community spaces, TREX provides barrier-free arts programming across the province. TREX Southeast is managed through the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat. For more information and a full listing of exhibition locations, visit - trexsoutheast.ca.