Boris Mikhailov was born in Ukraine in 1938. His challenging and provocative photographs document human casualties in post-communist Eastern Europe after the demise of the Soviet Union. Since the mid-1960s, Boris Mikhailov has explored photography’s full range of possibilities and produced an uncompromising yet ironically humorous portrait of his close surroundings. His tireless investigations into photographic techniques and stylistic means, as well as his frequent alternation between conceptual and documentary work, have contributed to making Mikhailov one of the most influential photographers living today.
Mikhailov represented Ukraine at the 57th Venice Biennale (2017). Other recent solo exhibitions include Palazzo Esposizioni and Fotomuseum Den Haag (2024); Maison Européenne de la Photographie, France (2022), Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden (2019); Before Sleep/After Drinking, C/O Berlin Foundation, Berlin (2019); Sprovieri, London (2018); Fotomuseum, Antwerp (2016); Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel (2016); MADRE, Naples (2015); Camera Italian Centre for Photography, Turin (2015); Sprengel Museum, Hannover (2013); Museum of Modern Art, New York (2011); and Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2010).
A selection of his work was recently featured in the group shows: ‘Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins’, Barbican Centre, London (2018); 5th Odessa Biennale (2017); ‘The Human Condition Session II’, Moscow Museum of Modern Art (2016). Mikhailov was the recipient of the 2016 Goslar Kaiserring Prize; the 2012 Spectrum International Prize for Photography; the Citibank 2001 Photography Prize; and the 2000 Hasselblad Foundation International Award, among others.
His work is included in important public collections, including: Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin; ICA, Boston; Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Tate Modern, London; Tel Aviv Museum of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; MoMA, New York.
from the series 'The Parliament'
2014-2017
c-print high gloss
150 x 125 cm
From the series ‘Football’
2000
c-print
46 x 99 cm each
Man with Cherries
from the series 'Look at me I look at water'
1999
c-print and paper
115 x 78 cm
Triptych
from the series 'Case History'
1997-1998
c-print
60 x 40cm each
The End of an Era
1995
chromogenic print, printed from digital file of the negative in 2014
296 x 127 cm
from the series 'Green' (triptych)
1991-1993
gelatine silver prints hand coloured with aniline
264 x 300 cm
from the series 'Green'
1991-1993
gelatine silver print hand coloured with aniline
100 x 264 cm
from the series 'Yesterday's Sandwich'
late 1960s - late 1970s
c-print from DIA
128 x 183 cm
from the series ‘Yesterday’s Sandwich’
late 1960s - 1970s
c-print from DIA
89 x 129 cm
from the series ‘Yesterday’s Sandwich’
late 1960s - 1970s
c-print from DIA
43.5 x 29.5 cm
from the series 'Yesterday's Sandwich'
late 1960s - 1970s
c-print from DIA
30 x 44 cm
from the series ‘Yesterday’s Sandwich'
late 1960s - 1970s
c-print from DIA
30.3 x 45.7 cm or 45.7 x 30.3 cm each
Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden
C/O Berlin Foundation, Berlin
Regional Center of Photography Hauts-de-France, Douchy-les-Mines, France
Mikhailov: the world belongs to you, palazzo grassi
Marcelle: future generation art prize exhibition (winner), Palazzo Papadopoli
kounellis: ileana sonnabend, an italian portrait, peggy guggenheim
Kounellis and Kabakov: tra - edge of becoming, Palazzo Fortuny
nan Goldin: Real Venice - Venice in Peril Project, San Giorgio
