American Artists for Ukraine’s Children: A Virtual Benefit Auction for OHMATDYT, Ukraine’s Largest Children’s Hospital

GAITHERSBURG, MD - On September 14, 2022 over 35 distinguished American artists will be donating a master work for a virtual benefit auction in collaboration with United Help Ukraine to benefit Ohmatdyt, Ukraine’s premier children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv. Ohmatdyt is now taking the overwhelming numbers of patients from hospitals (over 120) and medical facilities (over 740) that have been destroyed in combat zones and where medical staff have been killed. Hosted by United Help Ukraine and Bidsquare, and organized by American artists Robert Johnson and Martin Galbut, this unprecedented art event will raise funds to help Ohmatdyt hospital pay for critical medical equipment and supplies. Open bidding runs on Bidsquare.com from Sept. 14-28 and concludes at 9pm EST, Sept. 28. There will be 45 art works up for auction, including sculpture and oil paintings from artists like David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Ray Kaskey, Scott Burdick and Stephanie Birdsall. For the full list of participating artists and more details go to www.unitedhelpukraine.org/art. To bid on the auction, register first at www.bidsquare.com.

Lot 17, Scott Burdick, Sarah for Ukraine, Oil on stretched canvas 

Inspired at first glance of the famous photo of Denys Karachevtsev playing the cello in the ruins of Kharkiv, Robert Johnson decided to act. “If the cellist could offer his art for the people of Ukraine, perhaps we as American artists, can offer our art also,” stated Johnson. He rallied fellow American artists among the leading painters and sculptors in the U.S., to each contribute a masterwork for the auction.

“Artists have an acute sense of right and wrong. They are often able to draw attention to suffering and injustice better than a spoken word can. Be it Goya’s “The Third of May” or Picasso’s “Guernica”, there is a long history of artists bringing awareness to the horrors of war and raising funds for relief efforts. United Help Ukraine is honored to partner with artists Robert Johnson, Martin Galbut, and Bidsquare in organizing this event. We are grateful to the artists who contributed their amazing works and hope these works bring joy to art-lovers. We are confident the proceeds will give a vital boost to Okhmatdyt hospital,” stated Vlad Ovchynnikov, Board Member of United Help Ukraine.

At Ohmatdyt, critically ill children including oncology patients, newborns, and neurosurgery patients are now forced to continue treatment in hospital basements. The Okhmatdyt medical team has been working amid constant air raid sirens, shell bombings, explosions, air strikes, even a fire --- performing extremely complex surgeries in makeshift basement operating rooms. Children on life support devices cannot be transported to the bomb shelter at even greater risk of death now. “We value the support of the international community of artists, this is a wonderful initiative. Ukrainian children go through unbelievably hard times, they need more care than ever before. The funds raised in this auction will allow us to buy medical equipment that help save children's lives. We are sincerely grateful for your attention to Ukrainian children at this time,” stated Yevgen Vember, Chairman of the Board of the Okhmadyt Fund.

Lot 24, David Riedel, Copper Vase, Oil on linen

"Bidsquare is thrilled to partner with United Help Ukraine to support Ohmatdyt, and to see our platform being leveraged to give back and support relief efforts,” said Allis Ghim, CEO of Bidsquare. "We are proud to support these important international efforts by providing an online platform to help raise funds and promoting artworks donated by distinguished artists while raising awareness of the critical needs of the hospital."

United Help Ukraine, Inc. is a non-profit 501©(3) charitable organization receiving and distributing donations, food and medical supplies to Ukrainian internally displaced people and those affected by Russia’s invasion, families of wounded or killed Ukrainian soldiers and warriors. Founded in 2014, by a small group of people who met at a Washington, D.C. protest after the Russian attack on Ukraine, the organization continues to raise global awareness and garner humanitarian support and aid for Ukrainian victims of war. It is highly rated for its low administrative costs and efficiency in getting funds to Ukraine designated beneficiaries.

Okhmatdyt in peacetime performs more than 10,000 surgeries a year, has 720 hospital beds and treats more than 20,000 children annually. There were formerly 80 departments which provided medical care to children with a variety of medical problems involving oncology, rare diseases, injuries, kidney failure, and genetic diseases. Founded in 1996, Okhmatdyt was the first in Ukraine to do bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors, as well as organ transplants, including kidney transplants from posthumous donors.

Bidsquare is the premier auction technology service provider with a curated marketplace platform for collectors to discover and bid on rare and authentic fine art, antiques and design from leading auction houses and dealers. It is the destination for individuals and collectors seeking exceptional and one-of-a- kind pieces, with new and unique pieces added for sale every day.

Robert Johnson is an award-winning American painter, including 6-time award recipient from the Oil Painters of America (OPA), an OPA “Master” and recipient of the American Art Collector Magazine Award of Excellence. Johnson is also an author (On Becoming a Painter), and has been featured in Oil Painting with the Masters, a popular book in the art world. He teaches painting workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada and has had twenty one-man shows in private galleries throughout the U.S. www.robertjohnsonart.com.