10 Years of FAINA: A Decade of Cultural and Sustainable Luxury Design
When FAINA celebrates its 10 - year milestone, it doesn’t mark a decade of objects - it marks a journey transforming from an experimental idea into an internationally recognized voice of Ukrainian cultural designs.
To celebrate this journey, FAINA presents a landmark exhibition in New York City, in Ukrainian Institute of America - honoring the brand’s past, present and future.
Founded after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, FAINA collections evoke ancient symbols and revive ancient crafts thus passing on cultural history and forming the language of contemporary Ukrainian design. From its roots came the philosophy of “live minimalism”—a naive, primal aesthetic grounded in natural materials and handcraft. The first FAINA objects were rooted in everyday traditions: clay vases, wooden stools, felt textiles—raw, tactile, and imbued with cultural spirit.
SONIAH lamp. Process of creation
SONIAH lamp. Process of creation
A Philosophy of Earth, Heritage, and Hands
Central to her designs is the use of ZTISTA, a signature material blend that she developed to combine sustainability with aesthetic appeal. ZTISTA is a composite material made from natural elements like stone and wood, designed to offer the benefits of sustainability without compromising on beauty or performance. This material encapsulates Yakusha's vision of sustainable craftsmanship-creating functional, eco-friendly designs that stand the test of time. ZTISTA is both durable and adaptable, allowing it to be used in a variety of design applications, from furniture to architectural finishes.
Yakusha's "live minimalism" philosophy also encourages the creation of spaces that prioritize function over excess. In her designs, each element has a purpose, contributing to a harmonious, balanced space. Minimalism, in this context, isn't about stark emptiness but about curating a space that feels uncluttered and intentional. This mindset leads to the use of eco-friendly furniture and decor that not only look beautiful but also offer long-term durability. By choosing pieces that are built to last, and prioritizing quality over quantity, Yakusha promotes sustainable design that reduces the need for frequent replacements. In addition, the "live minimalism" philosophy advocates for personalizing spaces with meaningful, long-lasting items-such as family heirlooms, cherished artifacts, or sustainably crafted furniture-thereby infusing life and warmth into a minimalist setting without compromising on eco-consciousness.
Drawing from Ukrainian mythology, nature, and ritual forms, FAINA’s pieces are designed not for trend but for timeless resonance. It is a practice of cultural design — one where heritage becomes a living part of everyday interiors.
Retrospective : The Shape of Vitality & Drevo
Retrospective : The Shape of Vitality & Drevo
A Decade in Reflection: FAINA: The Shape of Vitality & Drevo
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, FAINA, together with the Ukrainian Institute of America, is organizing a major two-part exhibition in New York.
June 26 – July 10, 2025
Ukrainian Institute of America| 2 E 79th Street New York, NY.
For this retrospective exhibition, FAINA has curated what are arguably our most iconic pieces — an archive of form and memory in which design transcends time and captures moments. A decade’s worth of emotional and corporeal design crystallized in each work that gently connects the material to the spiritual and pulses with muted energy includes SONIAH floor lamp, PLYN armchair, KUMANEC and BANDURA vases, and Grun’ lamps.
In addition to the retrospective she is also exhibiting Drevo— a new series of engraved steel panels inspired by the ancient Ukrainian Tree of Life, marking a new direction for her art practice. The rest are hand-engraved steel panels named after Ukrainian women which honor feminine strength while celebrating ancestral memory embodying symbols once painted on village homes. In Victoria Yakusha’s hands these are not relics— they are living vessels. Topics explored invite audiences to respond to what we carry forward as heritage along with the ways through which generations can be interconnected by forms.
Explore the FAINA decade
SONIAH big floor lamp
STRIKHA pendant lamp
TOPTUN chair
VOLYK BENCH
PLYN armchair
PLYN sofa
Grun’ big floor lamp
Grun’ Bench
Grun’ chair
PLYN bed
SLUHACH FLOOR LAMP
Steel Panel Vira
SLUHACH PENDANT LAMP IDEA
SONIAH medium sconce
TOPTUN armchair
STRIKHA table lamp
PAMPUKH armchair
DOMNA armchair
Neboshyj sculpture
Shvydkonih sculpture
Sontsehryv sculpture
Dovhovukh sculpture
ZTISTA table
PAMPUKH bed
Tiara vase Small
SONIAH bench
Smereka sculpture
Steel Panel Maria
Steel Panel Solomia
Steel Panel Mavka
Steel Panel Olha
SLUHACH BIG FLOOR LAMP
Steel Panel Nadia
Steel Panel Yavdoha
Steel Panel Olena
Steel Panel Stepanyda
Steel Panel Paraska
Tiara vase Medium
Tiara vase Big
Steel Panel Ksenia
Steel Panel Frosyna
Steel Panel Katria
Steel Panel Sofia
BRYLA Long Cabinet
Grun' Dewlit chair
Grun' Dewlit Armchair
Grun' table big
Grun' table
Grun’ small floor lamp
Grun’ Bed
Grun’ armchair
BRYLA Cabinet
ZEMLIA TAPESTRY
LIQUID QUIET M/L racks
DUZHYI stool duzhyi-duzhyi
DUZHYI stool big
SONIAH medium floor lamp
SONIAH small floor lamp
SONIAH table lamp
ZTISTA chair
PLYN sofa XS
DUZHYI stool medium
DUZHYI stool small
LUCKY AKEBIA lamp
SONIAH big sconce
SONIAH small sconce
LUCKY AKEBIA floor lamp
Neboshyi land of light
Shvydkonih land of light
Dovhovukh land of light
Sontsehryv land of light
SLUHACH PENDANT LAMP DESIRE
SLUHACH PENDANT LAMP DREAM
MOVCHUN Coffee Table
MOVCHUN ARMCHAIR
MOVCHUN CHAIR
ZTISTA oval table leg
ZTISTA table leg
ZTISTA table 2 legs
PLYN wide vase
PLYN narrow vase
PLYN Duo small vase
MAKOSH tapestry
HRYB low coffee table
ZOREHRIV
LASKOHRAJ
DYVORIH
TRIMUDRA
PLYN candlestick
ZTISTA bench
PLYN bench
PLYN small sofa
LIQUID QUIET S/S racks
LIQUID QUIET M/S racks
LIQUID QUIET H/S racks
LIQUID QUIET S/M racks
LIQUID QUIET M/M racks
LIQUID QUIET H/M racks
LIQUID QUIET S/L racks
LIQUID QUIET H/L racks
KUMANEC set of vases
PLYN shallow vase
KUMANEC triple vase
KUMANEC two-legged vase
KUMANEC long neck vase
KUMANEC one-legged vase
KUMANEC three-legged vase
ZTISTA nightstand
SONIAH coffee table oval
BANDURA SET VASE
KOROTUN big coffee table
TREE OF LIFE tapestry
PECHYVO cabinet
PAMPUKH bench
DOMNA ottoman
SONIAH coffee table low
SONIAH pendant lamp
SONIAH coffee table tall
TREMBITA floor decor
SONIAH coffee table long
PAMPUKH sofa
PIVNICH floor lamp
ZTISTA oval table
CENTER OF THE WORLD tapestry
Wood Sample for Sofa
White Glove Service
Tree Stump coffee table
Myt' wall decor
Steel Panel Ahafia
Steel Panel Hanna
Steel Panel Yaryna
BRYLA Cabinet size M
BRYLA Cabinet size S
Sample box II
Wood Sample II