Missoula, Montana – Visual artist and tattoo artist Anka Lavriv partnered with textile studio Western sensibilities to raise funds for Ukrainian organizations through a new collection of pillows.

Lavriv, a Ukrainian American known for her line art and tattoos, created two designs for this initiative: Lev and Lybid.

“Lev was inspired by Ukrainian artist Mariya Prymachenko and I love how her work captures the playful side of Ukrainian culture,” says Lavriv. “Some people think folk art is primitive, but I’ve always been drawn to the raw imagination, honesty and directness of the image, because it avoids overthinking or intellectualizing and takes you to emotion.”

Lybid was born because Lavriv has always been inspired by female birds depicted in Slavic folklore and sees them “as a symbol of resistance and rebirth.” These bird women are believed to bring to heaven the traditional Ukrainian pysanka painted eggs as prayers and to me, Lybid represents hope for the future of Ukraine.

Made with a hypoallergenic insert, each pillow measures 20″ x 20″ and features micro-denier vegan fiber. All profits will be donated to Help Kharkov and the Ivan Honchar Museumwhich works to collect and safeguard Ukrainian historical and cultural works of art.

“We are more than honored to partner with Anka Lavriv on this vital initiative to raise aid for Ukraine,” said Kathryn Sanders, Founder of Western Sensibility. “His ode to Ukrainian folk art moves us deeply and helps us stay focused on Ukraine’s rich culture during this horrific time.”

Andrea is passionate about interior design and has covered the furniture industry for most of her career as a journalist. She is Editor-in-Chief, Design, Designers Today; in addition, she is also an editor of HFN and a lighting editor for Home Accents Today. Andrea lives in beautiful Brooklyn, where she might very well be the only person without a tattoo.