Homecoming: Valeria Sokolova’s solo exhibition is held at the Green Sofa Gallery in Lviv

This is the first time since independence that Lviv hosts an exhibition of the world famous illustrator of children’s books. Sokolova was born in the city and studied at the Ivan Fedorov Polygraphic Institute, presently known as the Ukrainian Academy of Printing. She took private lessons with the famous painter Volodymyr Cherkasov, continued her artistic education in Belarus, and then moved to New York. Currently, she teaches illustration and design at the City University of New York, while continuing to work as a successful illustrator of children’s books.

Sokolova-illustrated children’s books have become Standard Publishing’s bestsellers and were reprinted in many countries. Treasury of Christmas Joy is particularly popular, having been published in fifteen languages.

The exhibition at the Green Sofa at 7 Virmenska St. includes 20 original illustrations to seven children’s books that have been illustrated by Sokolova. The Tiny Princess and Kiri-Kiri, published in 2011, is one of them, being the first book to have been illustrated by the Lviv-born American artist for the Ukrainian A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA publishing house.

The exhibition, offering everybody a chance to enter the wonderful world of childhood and Sokolova’s fairytales, will last till February 3.