The extraordinary photo exhibition Courage of a Nation, by Howard G. Buffett, Ukraine’s largest private donor, will be on display at the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago from July 2 to September 7, 2025.
The photo exhibition is a selection of images that show the courage, resiliency, and commitment of the Ukrainian people as they stand strong for democracy and freedom, taken by Howard G. Buffett, photographer and chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The images were taken between April 2022 and January 2025, including more than 63 days along the front lines.
Mr. Buffett crossed the border into Ukraine, camera in hand, about six weeks after Russia began its February 2022 full-scale invasion. Since then, Mr. Buffett has made more than 20 trips to Ukraine, including trips to Bucha, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Vuhledar, Slovyansk, and Bakhmut.
The exhibition is curated by the world-renowned photographer and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and changemaker, Muhammed Muheisen.
Now, for the first time, Courage of a Nation is set to make its U.S. premiere in Chicago July 2, bringing its compelling visual narrative to a wider audience.
About Howard G. Buffett
Howard G. Buffett is the chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. A farmer, businessman, former elected official, former sheriff, photographer and philanthropist, he has dedicated his life to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable problems impacting the world’s food supply and undermining peace and stability. In support of that work, Howard has taken his camera to 154 countries across six continents, documenting active conflicts, endangered wildlife habitats and meeting with and learning from farmers, militias, refugees and internally displaced persons.
Howard currently serves on the corporate board of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. He previously served on several other Fortune 500 boards and has held senior corporate executive positions at various private and public companies. He spent 10 years in law enforcement, including as Sheriff of Macon County, Illinois.
Howard’s photographs have been displayed across the United States and in Europe.Buffett is the executive producer of four award-winning documentary films, including the 2024 Academy Award-nominated Porcelain War, centered on Ukraine.
About Muhammed Muheisen
Muhammed Muheisen is a world-renowned photographer. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, a National Geographic photojournalist and Explorer, the founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation, and a Global Ambassador for the Jordan Tourism Board and Canon. In 2013, TIME Magazine named him the Best Wire Photographer, and in 2023, he received the National Geographic Wayfinder Award.
Over the past 20 years, he has dedicated most of his work to chronicling the refugee crises, providing a robust and compassionate lens into the lives of those displaced by war and poverty. Most recently, Muheisen’s life and achievements were featured in a National Geographic documentary series. His episode, Muhammmed Muheisen: Finding the Light is currently streaming on Disney+ and National Geographic channels.
Viewers are immersed in Muheisen’s journey as he captures stories of refugees and displaced individuals across various conflict zones. His photography not only documents the harsh realities of war and displacement but also highlights moments of resilience and hope amidst adversity.
