Youry Bilak

Sub-creator Established Creator FR

Master of ethnographic portraits and documentary photography.

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"I don’t look for the perfect shot; I look for the person. My goal is to show the dignity and light that remain in people even in the darkest of times."

Youry Bilak (b. 1961) is a renowned French photographer of Ukrainian origin. His work is defined by a painterly use of light in the style of Baroque masters and a deep focus on human dignity. Author of acclaimed projects "The Ukrainians," "Maidan," and "Projection." His works have been exhibited at the UN, European Parliament, and major museums worldwide.

Youry Bilak (b. 1961) is an acclaimed French photographer of Ukrainian descent whose work represents a unique fusion of European artistic tradition and a deep connection to his heritage. A former professional dancer, he brought an exceptional sense of rhythm, form, and compositional harmony to photography. Bilak does not merely document reality; he works in the style of Baroque masters, utilizing the chiaroscuro technique to emphasize the inner strength and dignity of his subjects. His projects are visual chronicles of modern history. From extensive ethnographic studies of the Carpathians in "The Ukrainians" series to the dramatic imagery of Maidan and the front lines, he creates timeless images. His landmark project "Projection," featuring modern soldiers and medics in the poses of characters from classical masterpieces, became a global manifesto of resilience. As an influential cultural ambassador, Bilak represents Ukraine at prestigious venues like the UN and UNESCO.

Represented by

Mironova Gallery

Credentials

Awards

2016 Honorary Distinction of the President of Ukraine for the "Projection" project | Ukraine
2014 First Prize at "Prix de la Photographie, Paris" (Px3) for the "Maidan" series | France
2014 Special Award for the Best Documentary Series (Maidan project) | France
2008 Official status of Honorary Ambassador of Ukrainian Culture in France | France
2008 Medal for significant contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian heritage ("The Ukrainians" project) | Ukraine / France
1980 s | Professional career in leading dance companies (shaping his visual style) | France

Solo exhibitions

2024 2026 | "Light Through Darkness", international exhibition tour, Paris — Berlin — Brussels.
2023 "Resilience", Gallery of the Cultural and Information Center of Ukraine, Paris, France.
2021 "The Faces of War", National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2016 "Projection", Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2015 "Projection", National Kyiv-Pechersk Preserve, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2014 "Maidan", Cultural and Information Center of Ukraine in France, Paris, France.
2011 "The Ukrainians", Ukrainian Museum in Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
2010 "The Ukrainians", Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, USA.
2008 "The Ukrainians", National Taras Shevchenko Museum, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2008 "The Ukrainians", Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine.
2007 "People I Have Met", Arche Gallery, Saint-Étienne, France.
2005 "The Hutsuls", UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.
2004 "Ukraine", Lyon City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Lyon, France.

Group exhibitions

2024 2026 | "Witnesses of History", international touring project of documentary photography, Paris — Prague — Warsaw.
2023 "Warriors of Light", charity exhibition and auction, Brussels, Belgium.
2022 "Ukraine: Path to Freedom", International Festival of Photojournalism Visa pour l'Image, Perpignan, France.
2019 "Contemporary Ukrainian Photography", Krakow Photo Month, Krakow, Poland.
2015 "Voices of Maidan", European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.
2015 "Maidan", Palace of Europe (Council of Europe), Strasbourg, France.
2014 "Ukraine", UN Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
2013 "A Look at Contemporary Ukraine", Paris City Hall, Paris, France.
2009 "Diaspora Art", National Art Museum (NAMU), Kyiv, Ukraine.
2005 "Faces of the World", UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.
1990 s | Series of exhibitions with French photography associations, Lyon — Saint-Étienne, France.

Media coverage

International fairs

2024 2026 | TITANIUM, large-scale exhibition on the banks of the Seine and in cultural centers, Paris — Lille, France.
2024 2025 | "Dawn, Children of Ukraine", exhibition tour under the auspices of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg — Chaville — Paris.
2022 Visa pour l'Image, International Festival of Photojournalism, Perpignan, France.
2016 Kyiv Art Week, International Art Forum, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2015 "Voices of Maidan", European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.
2015 "Maidan", Palace of Europe (Council of Europe), Strasbourg, France.
2014 "Ukraine", UN Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
2013 "A Look at Contemporary Ukraine", Paris City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Paris, France.
2011 Art Kyiv Contemporary, International Contemporary Art Forum, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2005 "Faces of the World", UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.
2004 Lyon International Photo Salon, Lyon City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Lyon, France.

Personal

2016 Development of the unique artistic concept "Projection," which merged classical Renaissance art with documentary photography of modern warfare.
2014 Creation of one of the most significant visual archives of the Revolution of Dignity (the "Maidan" project), now part of the global historical context.
2008 Publication of the fundamental photo album "The Ukrainians," which became a benchmark for modern ethnographic photography and a showcase of Ukrainian culture abroad.
2005 Realization of a large-scale expedition project about the Hutsul people, presented at the highest diplomatic level at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
1980 s – 1990s | A successful multi-year career as a professional dancer in France, which shaped his exceptional sense of rhythm, form, and composition in photography.
1961 present | Status as a key figure in cultural diplomacy, building a bridge between French and Ukrainian artistic environments for decades.