Photography

A photographic practice exploring the relationship between image, perception, and memory through portraiture, staged photography, and visual narrative.

Photo Projects
Photo Projects
Photobooks
Photobooks
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My work explores the expressive power of images and the ways photographs shape perception, identity, and memory.

My projects move between portrait, staged photography, and visual narrative. Each series begins with a simple observation. A gesture. A face. A fragment of landscape. Through composition and light, these elements grow into images with a strong visual presence. The photograph becomes a place where reality and imagination meet.

I have lived and worked in Paris for more than two decades. During this time my work has been exhibited internationally and presented in galleries, festivals, and publications. Alongside exhibitions, the photobook holds an important place in my practice. The book format allows images to unfold through sequence. It creates rhythm, narrative, and visual dialogue across pages.

Several themes return throughout my work:

  • the relationship between image and identity

  • the creation of visual myths in contemporary culture

  • the tension between staged representation and lived experience

  • the influence of cinema, painting, and popular imagery

I approach photography as a visual language. Each image invites interpretation rather than delivering a fixed message. Viewers bring their own memories and associations into the photograph, allowing meaning to remain open and alive.

Today my artistic practice includes exhibitions, limited edition prints, and photobooks presenting long-term photographic projects.

Artist CV

  • 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)

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

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • Jungian Psychology Space “When Psyche speaks in images”, Jean-Pierre Robert, August 2025
    Radio Fréqu    ence Protestante “Sur les traces de Jung”, program by Catherine Gras, August 2025
    Radio Fréquence Protestante “Sur les traces de Jung”, program by Catherine Gras, August 2024
    Radio Fréquence Protestante “Sur les traces de Jung”, program by Catherine Gras, August 2023
    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

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

Photo Projects
Photo Projects
Photobooks
Photobooks
Buy Art
Buy Art