Olena Ponomarova

Visual artist and fine art photographer

Born in 1988, Sevastopol, Ukraine. Lives and works in Nice, France.

Olena Ponomaryova is a contemporary visual artist whose practice lies at the intersection of photography, bodily presence, and emotional perception. Working with tactile techniques and mixed media, she explores themes of vulnerability, silence, memory, and transformation through the human body.

Educated at the Kyiv School of Photography, MYPH School of Conceptual Photography, and Form Photo Academy in Paris, she also trained with international mentors including Kelly Brown. Her works have been exhibited in solo and group shows across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, including venues in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Cannes, and Kyiv.

Ponomaryova is a recipient of multiple international photography awards, including gold prizes at PX3 Paris Photography Prize (2023) and Tokyo International Foto Awards (2023), and the Fine Art Photography Awards (2024). Her works have been featured in publications such as Artworkgallery and in the collective photobook 100 Contemporary Ukrainian Photographers (2024), presented at Photo Basel.

Alongside her artistic work, she is the founder of “EP Newborn Academy” and the studio “Elen Photo,” where she develops educational programs and signature visual practices. Her art practice is rooted in the language of the body, focusing on slow presence, emotional resonance, and the poetic potential of stillness.