Can Art Sustain Peace?
- Eva Petrič
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Thank You New York to host Bird of Hope for Peace & Invitation to the Finissage of Exposing the Future in Vienna, June 15
"Peace is not something we inherit. It is something we continuously create — through our actions, our relationships, and also through our imagination. Art keeps that imagination alive."
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at the Artist in Conversation event accompanying my installation Bird of Hope for Peace at St. Peter’s Church in New York.
The conversation, moderated by David Cohen, Editor of Artcritical, and joined by Pastor Jared Stahler, explored a question that feels increasingly urgent today: What role can art play in preserving and fostering peace?
While art alone cannot stop wars or resolve political conflicts, it can create something equally essential: spaces for reflection, empathy, dialogue, and imagination. Art invites us to see beyond divisions and to recognize ourselves in others. In a world saturated with information, it can help us remain sensitive to what is human.
One thought that emerged during the discussion continues to resonate with me: peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is an active practice of connection, care, listening, and responsibility. Art can contribute to this practice by making visible what often remains unseen – our interconnectedness, our vulnerabilities, and our shared future.
My thanks to Art@Architecture Conservancy at St- Peter's church in New York for organizing the interesting discussion on the role of art in sustaining peace, to David Cohen for moderating the talk, to Jared Stahler for sharing his thoughts as well as for interesting remarks from the audience. Last but not the least, my thanks to hundreds of people in 11 countries who created and shared almost thousand roses of hope from which the Bird of Hope for Peace emerged and flew from Idrija in Slovenia on its mission of peace as far as to New York City.
For those who were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the discussion, I am pleased to share the video recording:
My thanks to Alex Erickkson for video recording and to Jose Alfaro for photographs as well as also to many who kindly share with me their photos.
Looking ahead, I would also like to warmly invite you to the Finissage of the exhibition Exposing the Future, where I am exhibiting alongside artists from Austria and Slovenia.
Finissage: Exposing the Future
June 15, 2026
6:00–8:00 PM
Hollerei Galerie
Hollergasse 12
1150 Vienna
The exhibition reflects on how we imagine the future today, and what responsibilities accompany those visions. At a time when technological, environmental, and social transformations are accelerating, the exhibition asks not only what kind of future awaits us, but also what kind of future we are already creating through our choices and actions.
I would be delighted to see you there.
With warm regards,
Eva
Copyright © Eva Petrič, 2026,, All rights reserved.
