On August 14, 2026, a panel discussion titled “Functional Art and Collection Design. Art Product of a New Form or an Interdisciplinary Compromise” took place in Kyiv at the Vivid Fusion space. Organized by the KNOBLACH atelier gallery and the Vivid Fusion art platform as part of the exhibition “Act One. Nahirna, 22,” the event brought together designers, curators, and studio founders to explore the intersection of art and design, the current state of collectible design in Ukraine, and the infrastructure needed to support a domestic art market.
A primary focus of the conversation was defining the boundary between art and functional objects. Participants discussed what transforms an original piece into a collector’s item—such as unique forms, limited production editions, craftsmanship, creation history, and professional recognition—while noting how modern interior design increasingly uses custom objects to tell stories and communicate brand values or personal character.
While acknowledging that Ukrainian collectible design boasts talented authors, unique craft traditions, and local materials that could compete globally, the speakers emphasized that a full-fledged market does not yet exist. Building a sustainable ecosystem requires specialized galleries, professional criticism, transparent pricing, authorship certification, digital platforms, and collaboration among artists, designers, architects, and businesses.
The discussion also highlighted the critical role of physical workshops and studios, which provide more than just workspaces; they foster professional exchanges, intergenerational collaborations, and independent cultural communities. This vulnerability of artistic infrastructure was underscored by the recent experience of the “Nahirna 22” art community. Founded in 2019 around the Kyiv Institute of Automation, the community grew to include over 200 artists before losing its shared premises in May 2026, forcing studios to relocate across nine different addresses in Kyiv and illustrating how isolated workspaces struggle to replace vibrant, collaborative communities.
The exhibition “Act One. Nahirna, 22,” running at Vivid Fusion through August 31, 2026, and curated by Oleksandr Bogomaz, directly reflects on this displacement while capturing the community’s foundational period. Ultimately, the panel concluded that despite lacking a fully established system, the Ukrainian collectible design market possesses the necessary creative talent and cultural context, with the crucial next step being the development of a supporting infrastructure to expand these practices both locally and internationally.
