March 31 opening lecture and panel discussion at Fairfield Theatre Company; Reception to follow at Fairfield University Downtown.
Fairfield University is hosting Icons on Ammo Boxes: Christian Art of Hope and Sorrow from the War in Ukraine, an exhibition of Ukrainian sacred art created from ammunition boxes recovered from the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Since 2015, shortly after the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, artists Sonia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko have transformed fragments of ammunition boxes recovered from the front lines into sacred works of art. Drawing from the centuries-old tradition of Orthodox icon writing, their internationally recognized Icons on Ammo Boxes project bears witness to the tragedy of war while offering prayer and hope for a just peace.
Beginning March 16, Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact, and Center for Arts & Minds are presenting an exhibition of 27 of these works at Fairfield University Downtown, 1720 Post Road in Fairfield, Conn.
Icons on Ammo Boxes: Christian Art of Hope and Sorrow from the War in Ukraine includes the 11 pieces of the artists’ Mariupol Deisis (2022), a striking series created in response to the near-total destruction of the city of Mariupol in 2022. Following the traditional Deisis iconographic motif—Christ in Majesty flanked by the Virgin Mary, and St. John the Baptist in poses of intercession—the series evokes judgment, mercy, and the plea for humanity amid devastation.
Also on display is a new 2025 Marian series dedicated to Ukrainian children held in Russian captivity. As the artists write: “Motherhood, a vital and foundational concept in society, transforms into an anti-war statement, becoming an antithesis of conflict and a symbol of hope.” These works reflect both the suffering of the innocent and the hope for freedom and restoration.
The exhibition will also feature a newly created icon of St. Ignatius of Loyola, made exclusively for the Fairfield exhibition, and an icon of the Mother of God with Child, that was presented to Pope Leo XIV by Ukraine’s President and First Lady.
The Icons on Ammo Boxes project has been displayed all over the world, including recently at the Scottish Parliament (2025), the Parliament of Finland (2025), and in Rome at St. Peter’s Cathedral (2025). Last year, in the exhibition Wartime Beauty, the project was on display at Fordham University’s Refuge Gallery through the university’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center. The project supports volunteer initiatives dedicated to helping soldiers and civilians who have suffered injury, trauma, and displacement due to the war.
A public opening lecture and panel discussion will take place on March 31 at 5 p.m. at Fairfield Theatre Company’s Stage One, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, Conn., followed by a reception in the gallery spaces at Fairfield University Downtown, down the street at 1720 Post Road, through 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Exhibition Details
- Exhibition: Icons on Ammo Boxes: Christian Art of Hope and Sorrow from the War in Ukraine
- Dates: March 16 – May 22, 2026
- Location: Fairfield University Downtown, 1720 Post Road, Fairfield, Conn.
- Public Hours: Open to the public on Fridays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (except April 3).
- Additional Visits: To schedule a visit outside public hours, contact Mary Crimmins at mcrimmins@fairfield.edu.
Opening Lecture & Reception
- Date: March 31
- Lecture & Panel Discussion: 5 p.m. at Fairfield Theatre Company, Stage One, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield
- Reception: Fairfield University Downtown, 1720 Post Road, Fairfield., following panel discussion, until 8 p.m.
For more information visit fairfield.edu/artsminds.
