Best Artist of
SURVIVAL RITUALS

Kateryna Tytarenko is a Ukrainian sports photographer specializing in rhythmic gymnastics, internationally recognized for her work at the intersection of sport, documentary photography, and visual storytelling. A former Candidate for Master of Sport in rhythmic gymnastics, she combines deep technical knowledge of the discipline with a distinctive artistic vision. Since 2017, she has documented the world’s leading gymnastics events, including the FIG World Championships, Junior World Championships, European Championships, World Cup and Grand Prix competitions across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. In 2025, she joined the USA Gymnastics National Team as an official photographer, marking a significant milestone in her international career. Her work is celebrated for its precision, impeccable timing, and ability to capture the emotional and artistic essence of elite athletic performance. Today, she collaborates with national teams, elite athletes, and clubs worldwide, creating a visual archive of contemporary rhythmic gymnastics that preserves defining moments of the sport for future generations.

Mykola Novikov is an award-winning photographer based in the United States, recognized for his distinctive visual style and international professional achievements. In 2023, he received First Place in the prestigious international 35PHOTO competition, and in 2025 his work was exhibited twice at Decode Gallery (USA). His portfolio includes collaborations with internationally renowned UFC athletes and WWE superstars, including Paige VanZant, Ashley Sebera (Dana Brooke), Mandy Saccomanno, and Macey Estrella (Zelina Vega). Alongside his commercial and artistic practice, Novikov is an established photography educator and workshop instructor, mentoring the next generation of photographers. His work combines technical excellence with a strong contemporary visual language, earning recognition within both the fine art and commercial photography communities.

Anna Avetova is a Ukrainian strategic advisor, curator, and Director of Art Kyiv Fair, Ukraine’s leading contemporary art fair. With nearly 12 years of experience in curatorial practice, cultural entrepreneurship, and institutional development, she specializes in contemporary art strategy, international cultural projects, and sustainable ecosystem building. She is the founder of TUASHO, an international art advisory and cultural strategy agency working with artists, collectors, galleries, and cultural institutions across Europe, the United States, and Ukraine. Throughout her career, Anna has led major exhibition and institutional initiatives, including projects in New York, Basel, Berlin, and Ukranian Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. As a strategic advisor, she develops long-term positioning and market strategies for artists, galleries, and cultural organizations, helping build resilient institutions and internationally competitive cultural projects.

Eugenia Brodsky is a Ukrainian-born, US-based visual artist and curator with over twenty years of international experience spanning photography, film, curation, and new media. Holding a Master’s degree with honors in Film and Television Directing, she is recognized for her multidisciplinary approach and distinctive visual language. She is the curator and art director of ULIVE, an internationally acclaimed NFT exhibition presented in New York in collaboration with CityX Foundation and Hyperlab (Milan), where she developed the published curatorial methodology “Curator as Author,” now taught as a professional case study in curatorial programs. Her photographic work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and featured in leading publications such as Vogue Ukraine, LensScratch, Contributor, Collater.al, NASTY Magazine, and DJ Mag. A member of the National Union of Photo Artists of Ukraine, Brodsky is widely recognized for her innovative contributions to contemporary visual culture and digital curatorial practice.

Ihor Timankov is a Ukrainian photographer based in the United States with more than 16 years of professional experience in documentary, portrait, commercial, and event photography. His work is recognized for its authentic visual storytelling and focus on capturing emotionally resonant, unscripted moments. Throughout his career, he has documented major international cultural events, including the Grand International Sevastopol Officers’ Ball, the Crimean Opera Ball, and numerous large-scale festivals and public events. Timankov is also the creator of the Framed Storytelling methodology and the author of published academic studies exploring narrative photography and its psychological and social impact. His work has been featured by leading Ukrainian media, and he is an honorary member of MYPH – the School of Conceptual and Art Photography, founded by Serhii Melnychenko. In recognition of his contribution to Ukrainian culture and the arts, he was awarded the Order of Ivan Mazepa. Most recently, he served as a jury member for the Follow Your Heart Independent Film Festival in New York. Today, Timankov continues to work internationally, combining commercial practice, visual research, and education while advancing contemporary approaches to photographic storytelling.

Kateryna Reznichenko is a Ukrainian visual artist based in Seattle, USA, whose practice centers on oil painting and watercolor. A graduate of the Lviv National Academy of Arts, where she earned a Master’s degree in Monumental Art, she has established an international presence through exhibitions and private collections across Europe and the United States. Her works are held in collections in Ukraine, Slovenia, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Cyprus, and the USA. Reznichenko’s artistic practice explores themes of transformation, embodiment, human relationships, mortality, and the fragility of existence. Through a refined painterly language, she creates deeply contemplative works that investigate the emotional and philosophical dimensions of the human experience.

Mariia Manuilenko is a Ukrainian curator and cultural manager working between New York and Kharkiv, specializing in contemporary Ukrainian art, exhibition development, and international cultural programming. Active in the field since 2017, she has curated more than 30 exhibitions across the United States and Europe in collaboration with museums, nonprofit organizations, and independent art institutions. She is the Co-Founder of Rukh Art Hub and Art Territory, two platforms dedicated to advancing Ukrainian artists through exhibitions, public programs, and international partnerships. Catalogues from her curatorial projects have been added to the collection of the Thomas J. Watson Library at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, recognizing the significance of her work within an international institutional context. Earlier in her career, she coordinated major international design initiatives with The 4th Block International Association of Graphic Designers, contributing to global poster triennials and the establishment of Eastern Europe’s first museum of ecological posters. Alongside her curatorial practice, she teaches at the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, where she developed an original course on exhibition history and curatorial practice. Her projects have been featured in Forbes, Hyperallergic, The Art Newspaper, Whitehot Magazine, and other leading international publications.

Myroslav Duzinkevych is a Ukrainian-American multidisciplinary artist based in New York whose practice bridges painting, scenography, and immersive spatial environments. A graduate of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, his academic painting was recognized by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine as the Academy’s outstanding diploma project of the year. Since relocating to the United States, he has collaborated with Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, and A24, and was selected as an Artist in Residence for the acclaimed Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in New York. His work has been exhibited at leading international venues, including SCOPE Art Show New York, Art on Paper, Affordable Art Fair New York, Kate Oh Gallery, and the MoRA Museum, and is represented in museum, corporate, and private collections across the United States and Europe. Duzinkevych is a member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, United Scenic Artists Local 829 (IATSE), the Salmagundi Club, the American Artists Professional League (AAPL), the Portrait Society of America, and the International Guild of Realism. Through his interdisciplinary practice, he continues to expand the dialogue between classical painting, architecture, and contemporary visual culture, creating immersive works that redefine the boundaries of artistic experience.

Oleksandr Gorbatyi is an internationally recognized screenwriter, scriptwriter, playwright, actor, and mentor whose work has made a significant contribution to the development of Ukraine’s contemporary cultural landscape. Renowned for his expertise in cross-cultural humor, media education, and storytelling, he works at the intersection of artistic practice, television, and pedagogy, shaping innovative approaches to creative expression. He is an active member of leading international professional organizations, including the Writers Guild of America, PEN America, the North American Writers’ Association, and the Association of Ukrainian Producers, reflecting his broad international recognition. His career spans television, theatre, and educational initiatives, while his research into comedy as a cultural and narrative system has contributed to the advancement of contemporary media and cultural discourse. Through his multidisciplinary practice, he continues to influence both the creative industries and the next generation of writers and storytellers.

Yana Liashenko is a Ukrainian-born birth photographer based in the United States, recognized for her pioneering work in documenting one of life’s most profound and transformative moments. After beginning her photography career in 2014, she became one of the first photographers in Ukraine to specialize professionally in birth photography, helping establish the genre within the country’s contemporary photographic landscape. Today, she is known for creating deeply emotional visual narratives that preserve the authenticity, intimacy, and significance of childbirth for families across generations. Alongside her photographic practice, she mentors fellow photographers and actively contributes to the professional development of birth photography as a respected documentary discipline. Her work is driven by a commitment to preserving genuine human experiences, creating timeless visual stories that celebrate the beginning of life and the enduring power of family memory.