Ilya Zakharin - portrait photographer and visual artist, born in 1996 in Saratov, Russia, and based in Germany since 2019.

Ilya is known for his charismatic portraits and abstract, conceptual photographs that deal with topics such as queer identity, male sexuality and body language.

He completed his photographic training at the renowned Berlin school Lette Verein, where he also further developed his visual language. His works are characterized by a minimalist, atmospheric representation of the identity of his protagonists, marked by a special sensitivity to human appearance and experience.

In January 2024, Ilya published his debut book “BODY”, which marked a milestone in his artistic career. The book explores the topics of sexual identity, physicality and the abstract form of the male body. With this project, he sent a strong signal of support for the international queer community as well as that of his home country.

In July 2024, as part of the “Thank you to” exhibition in the carpool, Ilya presented his final project “ROST”, which symbolized the challenges and overcomings that come with each new stage of life. As part of the exhibition, he showed the installation “Manifesto of Love”, a fabric print artwork that symbolized the beginning of a new phase of growth and the step into public space for photographers.

Ilya's work has been exhibited internationally, including in galleries and spaces such as Culterim, Newman Galerie, KUKUMU, THE BALLERY, ATELIER COCON COLOR, FABRIK and many others. His collaborations with local and international artists, magazines, fashion brands and companies enabled him to further develop his visual language and explore the limits of his creative expression in commercial projects.

“I am fascinated by the connection between human experience and authenticity. In my projects, I strive to create a safe space where anything is possible. In this space I visualize what often remains unspoken. With each project I discover and reflect not only the stories and experiences of my protagonists, but also many of their secrets."