ABOUT

Award-winning photographer Olga Volianska, born and based in Ukraine, has a dual artistic background: fashion design and architectural environment design.

In 2017, she discovered a new passion—photography. Initially, it was travel photography. She participated in numerous workshops and photo trips around the world, from Nepal to Paris, working alongside outstanding masters of photography, including a portfolio review with Gueorgui Pinkhassov.

In 2020, during the pandemic, photography took on a new meaning for Olga, evolving into a powerful tool for her artistic expression.

EDUCATION IN PHOTOGRAPHY:

  • The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
    Seeing Through Photographs, Modern Art & Ideas – Specialization in Modern and Contemporary Art and Design (2023–2024)
  • Università Bocconi, Milan, Italy
    Arts and Heritage Management, taught by Andrea Rurale (2024)
  • Form., Dinard, France
    Contemporary Photography, Creativity, and Art Management – Individual Mentorship by Dmytro Bohachuk (2023–2024)
  • Kyiv Photography School, Kyiv, Ukraine
    Contemporary Photography (2020–2023)
  • Chekachkov Photo Academy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
    Kharkiv School of Photography – Fine Art Photography (2020–2021)
  • International Art Management, Kyiv, Ukraine
    History of Global Curatorship: The Profession in the 21st Century – Taught by Oleksandr Soloviov, Art Historian and Curator (2020)

EXHIBITIONS / FAIRS:

2024 Gallery NuArt, Kyiv, Ukraine – group exhibition

2023 The Cardinal Gallery, Toronto – personal exhibition.

2022 House of Lucie, Budapest, Hungary – group exhibition

2021 Espace Beaurepaire, Paris, France  – group exhibition.

2020 Gallery NuArt, Kyiv, Ukraine – group exhibition

International Photography Fair – @PHOTO KYIV 2020

COLLECTIONS

  • Private collections: Canada, United States, Ukraine

The works are exhibited at The Cardinal Gallery in Toronto and are also featured on the Artsy platform.

AWARDS & MENTIONS

London International Creative Competition 2024: “Arrival” series: Finalist, Shortlist in Shoot (Photo/Video)

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2024: “My Odesa Sea” Bronze Winner in Book Professional Category.

Neutral Density Photography Awards 2024: “Arrival” series: 1st Place in Fine Art-Abstract Professional Category; “Skin Memory” series: Honorable Mention in Nature-Other Professional Category.

Budapest International Foto Awards 2024: “Shades of Home” series (from the project “My Odessa Sea”): Gold Winner in People-Lifestyle Professional Category; “Hope Blooms” series: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Abstract Professional Category; “Noosphere” project: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Other Professional Category.

The Prix de la Photographie 2024: “Noosphere” project (A Surreal Tapestry of Ukrainian Metamorphosis): Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Other Professional Category.

International Photography Awards 2024: “Noosphere” project (A Surreal Tapestry of Ukrainian Metamorphosis): Curator Selection in Professional Fine Art Category.

IPA One Shot – Searching for Peace 2024: “A Few Days Before…” (from the project “My Odessa Sea”): Curator Selection.

London International Creative Competition 2024: “Kakhovka Dam 6/06/2023” project: Finalist, Shortlist in Shoot (Photo/Video).

10th Fine Art Photography Awards 2023–2024: “Noosphere” project: Finalist, Nominee in Professional Fine Art Category.

International Photography Awards 2023: “Kakhovka Dam 6/06/2023” series: 2nd Place in Nature-Other Category; “Hoping” project: Jury Top 5 Selection by Caroline Metcalfe (“An emotionally engaging set of images that is very thought-provoking”); “In Rotation” series: Honorable Mention in People-Other Category

The Prix de la Photographie 2023: “Kakhovka Dam 6/06/2023” series: Gold Winner in Nature-Other Category; “Hoping” project: Bronze Winner in Fine Art-Collage Category.

Budapest International Foto Awards 2023: “Kakhovka Dam 6/06/2023” series: Gold Winner in Editorial-Environmental Category; “Blackout or Incipience” series: Silver Winner in Nature-Flowers Category; “Hoping” project: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Other Category.

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2023: “Eternal Values” series: Bronze Winner in Nature-Flowers Category; “Hoping” project: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Other Category.

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022: “Erosion” series: Silver Winner in Fine Art-Collage Category, Jury Top 5 Selection by Kenro Izu; “Fila Vitae” project: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Other Category.

Neutral Density Photography Awards 2022: “Erosion” series: 2nd Place in Special – Open Theme Category.

International Photography Awards 2022: “Erosion” series: Honorable Mention in Fine Art-Collage Category; “Fila Vitae” project: Honorable Mention in Nature-Other Category.

The Prix de la Photographie 2022: “Fila Vitae” project: Gold Winner in Nature-Other Category;

“Movement” series: Honorable Mention in Professional Fine Art-Still Life Category.

8th Fine Art Photography Awards 2021–2022: “The Horizon” series: Finalist, Nominee in Seascape Category; “Water’s Flowers” series: Finalist, Nominee in Fine Art Category.

Budapest International Foto Awards 2021: “Water’s Flowers” series: Gold Winner in Nature-Flowers Category, 2nd Winner in Nature Category; “Once Upon a Time There Was a Forest” series: Bronze Winner in Editorial-Environmental Category.

International Photography Awards 2021: “Water’s Flowers” series: Honorable Mention in Nature-Flowers Category, Jury Top 5 Selection by Dan Rubin (“Each image is a painting, and the series is exceptional. It’s rare to see a finished product that inspires such curiosity while standing on its own”)

The Prix de la Photographie 2021: “Water’s Flowers” series: Silver Winner in Nature-Flowers Category

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2021: “Once Upon a Time There Was a Forest” series: Bronze Winner in Editorial-Environmental Category; “Water’s Flowers” series: Official Selection in Nature-Flowers Category.

7th Fine Art Photography Awards 2020–2021: “Frozen Gardens” series: 1st Place Winner in Nature Category; “My Mars” series: Finalist, Nominee in Landscape Category; “The Life of One Pier” series: Finalist, Nominee in Open Theme Category.

The Prix de la Photographie 2020: “Frozen Gardens” series: Gold Winner in Nature-Flowers Category, 1st Place Winner in Nature Category.

Budapest International Foto Awards 2020: “Frozen Gardens” series: Gold Winner in Nature Category, Silver Winner in Fine Art Category; “Pink Geometry” series: Gold Winner in Nature-Aerial Category.

International Photography Awards 2020: “Frozen Gardens” series: 2nd Place in Fine Art-Still Life Category;

“Pink Geometry” series: Honorable Mention in Nature-Aerial Category

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2020:“Frozen Gardens” series: Silver Winner in Nature-Flowers Category

PUBLISHED WORK

PUBLICATIONS

  • Works from the series “Water’s Flowers” and “Noosphere” are featured in the book “100 Contemporary Ukrainian Photographers”, which has already gained international recognition:
    • Presented at Photo Basel 2024, marking its debut at an international art fair.
    • Showcased at FRANCE d’Arles 2024, receiving praise from renowned curator Nathalie Herschdorfer, director of the Photo Elysée Museum.
    • Included in the iconic collection of Martin Parr, housed at the Tate Museum, London.
    • Exhibited at the ST-ART fair in Strasbourg, in the acclaimed Kengo Kuma-designed venue, closing the year with a notable appearance.

📌 The book is now available at the Jeu de Paume Museum, 1 Place de la Concorde, Paris.

  • 2023 in Book «IPA Book 2023» International Photography Awards, Publisher Farmani Group Inc, 2024
  • 2023 in Book «P×3 2020 Book» Prix de la Photographie, Paris ,2024
  • 2022 in Book «P×3 2020 Book» Prix de la Photographie, Paris ,2023
  • 2020 in Book «IPA Book 2020» International Photography Awards, Publisher Farmani Group Inc, 2021
  • 2020 in Book «P×3 2020 Book» Prix de la Photographie, Paris ,2021