Bio

Yury Li-Toroptsov is a visual artist, a certified professional coach, and a practitioner of arts-based coaching for individual and business clients. He holds an Advanced Certificate in Coaching, Leadership & Change from the ESSEC Business School in Paris.

After studying linguistics (Diploma in English and French), Yury Li-Toroptsov began his career in the NGO sector in New York where he continued his academic career with an international scholarship. A graduate of the New School for Social Research (Master of Science Non-Profit Management), he joined the Paris office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) where he held the position of in-house consultant working on the issue of sustainable development and CSR in the tourism sector.

In 2003, he opened a new professional path and established himself as an artist photographer. Nourished by his Far Eastern origins, his American stays and his residence in Europe, Yury Li-Toroptsov works on what constitutes the common denominator of distant cultures: the relationship of humans to their own identity and the permanence of myths. His work has been shown in several personal and collective exhibitions, notably at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris Photo and at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris.

Passionate about Jungian psychology and engaged in a deep reflection on image and imagination, he created his own coaching technique which utilises mobile photography as a tool for personal and professional development. Li-Toroptsov is developing his new activity in the field of arts-based coaching by designing tailor-made workshops for institutional clients (L’École Pro at the Center Pompidou, Beaux Arts & Cie, EDF) and individuals. Currently he is a Jungian analyst-in-training at the CG Jung Institute Zurich, Switzerland.

He lives and works in Paris.

Artist residencies

2019 Berlin Sessions Residency, Berlin Germany
2014 Archisle International Photographer in Residence, Jersey Channel Island

Solo exhibitions

2015
"Deleted scene", Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris (2/24 - 6/24/15)
Yury Toroptsov, Gallery Photo 12, Paris (3/5 - 4/4/15)

2014
"Fairyland", Archisle International Photography Residence, Jersey (CI), The Berni Gallery, Jersey Arts Centre (9/1 - 9/13/14)

2013
"Marilyn and I", Moscow House of Photography / The Ekaterina Foundation, Moscow (3/15 - 5/12/13)

2012
"Marilyn and I", Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche, Paris (10/29/11 - 1/21/12)

2010
"The House of Baba Yaga", Basia Embiricos Gallery, Paris, 4 - 16 May, 2010
”The House of Baba Yaga”, large format photo exhibition, Sainte Genevieve des Bois in the framework of 2010 Year of Russia in France (4/30 – 7/4/10)

2008
"Marilyn and I" (extracts), French National Center of Costume, Moulins International Festival Cinema & Costume (6/26 - 6/29/08)
"Happiness", Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris (01/16 -03/30/08)

Art fairs and public sales

2018
Shanghai Photofairs (9/21-9/23)

2016
Photo LA, Los Angeles (1/21-1/24/16)

2015
Paris Photo, Grand Palais (11/12 - 11/15/15)

2013
Fotofever Art Fair, Brussels (10/4 - 10/6/13)

2012
Sale LINK pour AIDES, Le Grand Palais, Paris (11/27/12)
Sale "Photography: vintage, modern and contemporary", Piasa, Drouot, Paris (10/26/12)

2011 
Sale "Russian and Soviet Photographs from 1900 Till Present", Piasa, Drouot, Paris, curated by Agnès de Gouvion Sant-Cyr (03/28/11)

2010
Photo Off, Paris (11/18 - 11/21/10)

2009
Salon de mai, Paris (5/11 - 5/17/09)

2008
Paris Photo, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris (11/13-11/16/08)
Scope Basel, Switzerland, represented by Saatchi Online (6/3 – 6/8/08)

Group exhibitions

2015
"Quintessence", Jersey Arts Centre, St. Helier, Jersey, British Channel Island (11/30 - 1/2/16)

2012
"DIY: Photographers & Books", The Cleveland Museum of Art, curated by Barbara Tannenbaum, (8/11 - 12/30/12)
"Seule", Renoma Store, Paris (5/11 - 12/31/12)
"Je voeux", Galerie de l'Atelier 2, Villeneuve d'Ascq (9/1 - 24/2/12)
Galerie Photo 12, Paris (12/8/11 - 1/14/12)

2011
"The House of Baba Yaga", BAL, Paris (5/10 - 5/15/11)

2010
"Lille3000", St. Sauveur train station, Lille, France (9/21 - 10/31/10)
“Dream dresses”, Le Colysee Maison Folie, Lambersart, France (3/13 – 5/30/10)

2009
"Marilyn and I" (work in progress), School Gallery, Paris (10/13 -11/07/09)
"Marilyn and I", The Rencontres d'Arles, France (7/07 - 8/30/09)

2008
"A hotel photo, an artist's view", Théâtre de l'Odéon, Paris (10/6 - 10/24/08)
"Legender une Vie", Les Correspondances de Manosque, France (9/24-9/28/08)
Contributed to Brooklyn Museum 's Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition (6/27 - 8/10/08)

2006
You said advertising?" Gallery of the House of Photographers, Paris (11/3 - 11/30/06)
"Histoires d'Eaux", Gallery of the House of Photographers, Paris (1/2 - 1/31/06)

2005
"Histoires d'Eaux ", Halle au Blé, Alençon, France (1/29 - 2/28/05)

Festivals, artist talks, projections

2016
Recycl'ART, Extra Fort, Brussels, Belgium (5/18/16)

2015
Jersey Projection Gallery (11/10 - 11/14/15) St. Helier, Jersey

2011
Belfast Photo Festival (8/4-8/14/11)
Festival Images Singulieres, Sete, France (6/2 - 6/19/11)

2007
Bastille Design Center, Paris (11/29/07)
Les Vergers de l'Art Gallery, Paris (5/17/07)

Media appearances

Radio Fréquence Protestante “Sur les traces de Jung”, program by Catherine Gras, August 2022
British Journal of Photography, "Archisle", May 2016, Colin Pantall
Colin Pantall's Blog , "Deleted scene: An Ethnic Lanscape?", November 2015 , Colin Pantall
Telerama, "Deleted scene: des traces en taïga", April 2015, Frédérique Chapuis
Jersey Evening Post, "From Russia with camera", February 2014, Gill Kay
Snob, "Material proof", April 2013, Sergey Nikolaevich
Interview Russia, April 2013, Maria Basyrova
L'Insensé, n10, November 2012, Elizabeth Nora, Vanessa van Zuylen Menesguen
Rusia Hoy, "Marilyn Monroe, en clave rusa", August 2012, Ferran Mateo
Têtu, "Tout le monde préfère cette blonde", July-August 2012, Oscar Héliani, Sylvain Zimmermann
Aujourd'hui, "Sortir à Paris", December 2011
Figaro Madame, "Tendance éternelle Marilyn", December 2011
Le Figaroscope, "Les bons plans de la semaine", December 2011
Le Figaro, "Mitterrand, le photographe et la robe", November 2011, Claire Bommelaer
ELLE France, "Phénomène Marilyn à la folie", November 2011, Florence Tredez
Le Nouvel Observateur, "Phénomènes : Marilyn and I", October 2011
Images Magazine, "Marilyn et Lui", n49, 2011
Le Figaroscope, "Le Bon Marché à tous les étages", October 2011, Sophie de Santis
Point de vue, "An exceptional sale: History and photographs", March 2011, Gilone
GEO Italy, "Il buio oltre la siepe", January 2011, Paola Brivio
Le Figaro Madame, "Yury Toroptsov shoote le mythe", May 2010
Images, "Yury Toroptsov, la fusion des fantaisies", May - June 2010
BE, "La maison de Baba Yaga : L'enfance de l'art", May 2010, Cecile Guéret
L'Oeil, "Images du mois", September 2009
Liberation, "Marilyn a la derobee", August 2009, Brigitte Ollier
Psychologies.com, Cafe Culture, "Marilyn and I", August 2009, Camille Hermann
A Shaded View on Fashion.com, "Marilyn and I", July 2009, Diane Pernet
Art Actuel, "Art Attitude", July - August 2009
Shot Arles special edition, "Marilyn and I", July 2009
Le Temps," Arles 40 ans dans le viseur", July 2009, Luc Debraine
Telerama.com, "A la rencontre d'Arles", July 2009, Serge Ricco
Saatchi Online Critic's Choice, January 2009, Rebecca Wilson
Burn, "Marilyn and I", March 2009
Shot, "La Maison de Baba Yaga", November - December 2008
SFR Young Talents Magazine n5, "Conte de fees", December 2008, Jean-Baptiste Bernard
Saatchi Online Critic's Choice, April 2008, Ana Finel Honigman
Le Photographe, "Yury Toroptsov. Laureat SFR a la MEP", February 2008, Herve Le Goff
SFR Young Talents Magazine n1, "Le Bonheur selon Yury Toroptsov", February 2008, Emilien Bernard
Photographie.com, "Marilyn and I", 2007 
TSF Jazz, "Marilyn et nous", Nathalie Piolé, 25 November 2011
France 5, "Cinémas", 15 January 2011, Serge Moati
France 2, Telematin, Carre VIP, "Marilyn and I", August 2009, Henry-Jean Servat
Fine Art TV, "Springboard: Yury Toroptsov", December 2008

Awards

German Photo Book Prize 2016
Grand Prix SFR Young Talent Photo 2009, Special Mention
Winner of SFR Young Talent Photo Competition 2008