Buy a star and become part of a story of beauty, reconstruction, and protection.
The stars are still available for purchase, and now 100% of the amount is directed to the Veronika Blyzniuchenko Foundation, with the purpose of raising funds to build a protective shelter and to restore a historic building in my beloved city of Kharkiv, Ukraine.
The foundation was created in my city with the mission to rebuild, and to offer beauty and protection.
My heart accompanies each star and every foundation product that travels across the world, and 100% of the funds from the stars and all products sold by the foundation will be dedicated to rebuilding, providing education, psychological support, and everything that is necessarily beautiful for my beloved city of Kharkiv.
Beauty is a choice, and everyone who supports this project has chosen to focus on beauty and on the power of rebuilding and protecting.
“Beauty is a Choice”
Veronika Blyzniuchenko
Previous project: Reopening and restoration of the old cloisters in the
Basilica da Estrela monument.
This project, completed in 18 months of persistent work and daily dedication, received over 17,000 visits, and the proceeds from the sale of the stars were entirely allocated to the restoration of this beautiful monument, which has gained new life and possibilities. This project showed me the power of collective action and how most people have a star within them and wish to rebuild and protect it, and that everything is possible when we believe together.
“UNIVERSE”
Technique: acrylic on canvas and gold leaf, 444 stars.
Year: 2024
Price: €50 unit
Artist: Veronika Blyzniuchenko
The artistic installation UNIVERSO was created by the artist Veronika Blyzniuchenko, the artist feels so grateful for having been so well received in Portugal that she created and makes available for sale the stars of this installation and allocates 100% of the value to the restoration of this beautiful space, 50% of the value is donated directly to the Basilica and the other 50% Veronika Blyzniuchenko uses for the continuous restoration that she carries out every week.
The ancient cloisters of the basilica: This area was closed for many years and now, thanks to the hard work, dedication and investment of Veronika Blyzniuchenko, it is open again for visitors free of charge, with the environment and the project in perfect harmony with the artist's mission of spreading beauty in this world.
At each stage of the restoration, Veronika also donates a large work of art valued at approximately 2,200 euros and holds a raffle for supporters who invested in a star.
The stars continue to spread throughout the world and make a difference in this important monument. You can be part of this story by supporting the Basilica and this successful project by the artist. At the end of each stage, another work will be raffled off again for new supporters.
A lot has already been done and much more can still be done in this space.
Choose your star and make your wish.
“The beauty is a choice”
I was very well received in Portugal and I am very grateful to this country. I want to return and spread beauty here too. I found many buildings that are not being used, but I felt a great connection with this historic area of the Basilica da Estrela.
I created the first star before I even had the project and placed it next to my bed. Every day I would touch it and fulfill the desire to be able to make a difference in this space and make it suitable for my exhibition. I then created the project and the concept of the art instalation where the stars are sold and distributed around the world.
The project was approved, and despite having no foundation, resources, or sponsorship, I decided to undertake it as a way to give back to Portugal, which had welcomed me so kindly. It was also an opportunity to create a beautiful space for an exhibition lasting three months.
The area had been closed for decades, filled with thousands of kilos of dirt and debris, and part of the structure was damaged. Together with my curator, I worked tirelessly, cleaning everything with my own hands. I personally financed the restoration of the basic structural elements, allowing the old cloisters and internal garden of the Basilica da Estrela to reopen to the public.
My exhibition began in January 2024, and as part of it, I launched a project selling original handcrafted stars with certificates for €50 each.
I felt that I could do something with this space of approximately 2,000 square meters and achieve something significant. Today I have managed to restore the basic structure so that it can be opened free of charge to the public. A lot has already been done and I continue to do so, largely thanks to the supporters and buyers of the stars.
Half of the proceeds are donated to the Basilica, while the other half is reinvested in the ongoing restoration of the space. The exhibition was a success, and as a result, it has been extended throughout 2024 and 2025. I continue to finance the restoration with my own resources and the funds raised through the sale of these stars.
Throughout this journey, I have witnessed countless miracles, both before and during the project, and they continue to happen. I am deeply grateful to God for my profession and for allowing me to financially support my family when they needed it most. I dedicate myself entirely to my art and to the business of the art world, with all my love and energy.
This project at the Basilica da Estrela has proven to me that believing in yourself without limits is truly possible. With the help of my curator and the supporters who purchased the stars, I was able to transform a place that had been abandoned for decades into a space now open to the public for free visits. Visitors can see a significant artwork that I donated to the Basilica, a 4-meter-high piece now part of its permanent collection.
Additionally, I personally planted the entire garden and its flowers, and I continue to care for them every day, striving to make the space even more beautiful.
Predictable luck that we create and are responsible for it.
(Veronika Blyzniuchenko)
