A fundraising effort for Ukrainian-born muralist Iryna Zarutska has skyrocketed to $2.5 million, catapulting her mission to bring her art across the United States into the national spotlight. What started as a modest campaign to support her murals and family has now transformed into a cultural movement backed by some of the most recognizable—and controversial—names in the world.

Big Names, Big Numbers

The fund first made headlines earlier this week when Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk pledged $1 million to Zarutska’s project, praising her work as “a universal voice for resilience and humanity.” Not long after, internet personality and former kickboxing champion Andrew Tate announced he would match Musk’s donation with $1 million of his own, calling Zarutska “a fighter who turns pain into art.”

Those two contributions ignited a wave of momentum. Within 48 hours, additional donors—ranging from anonymous philanthropists to ordinary art enthusiasts—pushed the total to $2.5 million. Organizers say the outpouring has exceeded all expectations.

“This has grown far beyond what we imagined,” said Michael Donovan, spokesperson for the Zarutska Fund. “People aren’t just giving money. They’re giving energy, support, and validation to an artist whose voice carries both beauty and urgency.”

Who Is Iryna Zarutska?

Zarutska, 34, is a muralist whose career began in Kyiv, where she painted large, surreal works often depicting women and children caught between fragility and strength. After fleeing Ukraine in 2022, she continued her art abroad, leaving her mark on walls in Berlin, Warsaw, and other European cities.

Her murals, often featuring haunting eyes, outstretched arms, and symbolic birds, have been celebrated as expressions of resilience in the face of war and displacement. Supporters describe her work as both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Now, with the new wave of funding, Zarutska is set to take her vision to the United States, creating large-scale public murals in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami.

“I don’t want my art locked in galleries,” Zarutska said in a recent interview. “I want it on the streets, where it can belong to everyone.”

A Fund With a Dual Purpose

The Zarutska Fund has two missions. The first is artistic: financing the logistics of mural creation, including permits, scaffolding, paints, and coordination with city officials. Organizers say these installations will not be temporary but designed to last, turning city blocks into permanent monuments of resilience.

The second mission is personal. A portion of the donations will go directly to support Zarutska’s family, who remain in Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.

“Her art has captured the world’s attention, but behind it is a woman with loved ones still enduring the worst realities of war,” Donovan explained. “This fund ensures that both her vision and her family’s safety are cared for.”

Murals as National Landmarks

Art historians and critics are already predicting that Zarutska’s murals could become landmarks in American cities, standing alongside iconic works like Shepard Fairey’s Obey Giant and Banksy’s political stencils.

“Murals are not just decoration—they are storytelling on a monumental scale,” said Dr. Helen Garcia, professor of art history at Columbia University. “Zarutska’s voice is perfectly suited to the American landscape right now, where issues of resilience, migration, and identity are front and center.”

Public officials have also expressed interest in collaborating with the initiative. New York City Council members confirmed early talks are underway to secure walls in Brooklyn and Manhattan for Zarutska’s first U.S. installations.

The Musk–Tate Factor

Much of the media attention has focused on the unusual combination of Musk and Tate as the fund’s primary backers. Musk is no stranger to grand philanthropic gestures, often tying them to his futuristic vision of humanity. Tate, meanwhile, is one of the internet’s most polarizing figures, whose rhetoric has both drawn massive followings and sparked widespread criticism.

Yet both men appear to be aligned on this project.

“Iryna’s work resonates with me because it’s raw and fearless,” Tate said in a statement. “That’s what art should be.”

Musk, by contrast, kept his remarks concise: “Art matters. Stories matter. Iryna’s work does both.”

Regardless of their motivations, their combined $2 million kickstart was the catalyst for a surge of donations that turned the fund into a cultural phenomenon.

What Happens Next

The next phase involves careful planning. The fund is in talks with city officials, building owners, and local art groups to coordinate where and how the murals will appear. Donovan says Zarutska will travel to the U.S. this fall to begin sketching her first projects in person.

The artist is also expected to host community workshops in each city, inviting local residents—especially young artists—to help with the installations. “It’s not about me painting alone,” Zarutska explained. “It’s about creating something together that will live in the city long after I’m gone.”

A Face Seen Everywhere

As momentum grows, some supporters are already envisioning Zarutska’s art becoming as familiar as iconic street murals like the “I ❤️ NY” symbol or Los Angeles’ Angel Wings.

“You’re going to see Iryna’s face everywhere,” Donovan said. “And you’re going to see her vision in every brushstroke.”

For Zarutska, the attention is overwhelming but deeply affirming. “When I left my home, I carried only my paints and my hope,” she said. “To see people stand behind me like this—it means my hope is not just mine anymore. It belongs to everyone who believes in beauty and strength.”

A Movement in Motion

What began as a small campaign to support one artist’s family and vision is now shaping up to be a cultural movement with international backing. The $2.5 million milestone is unlikely to be the last headline. Organizers say donations are still pouring in, and the project may soon expand to include smaller murals in schools, hospitals, and community centers.

“This is bigger than art now,” Donovan concluded. “This is about resilience, humanity, and the power of people coming together.”

For now, the world will be watching—and waiting—as Zarutska prepares to bring her art, and her story, to America’s streets.