Meet Iana Tokarchuk | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Iana Tokarchuk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Iana, why did you pursue a creative career?
I knew early on that I wanted to be an artist. I think of creating as an axis of being—something everything else in life revolves around. And I see my photographs as an extension of myself in a way. I guess I just didn’t want to do anything else that wouldn’t give me that same sense of fulfillment.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I come from fashion photography, but I’ve always been drawn to portraiture and nudity. I mostly work with women, and what I love most is finding movement in stillness. I mostly shoot on film.

I’ve been taking pictures for almost 20 years now, because I started young. I think photographers of my generation in Ukraine had a kind of head start—we brought a fresh, open-minded perspective that was really needed in a post-Soviet context. My work was first published in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar when I was just 19.

I think the creative path is never easy, but for some of us, it’s either this or nothing. And that’s why and how you overcome difficulties.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite place in LA is Grand Central Market—I love the noisy, lively atmosphere and the view of the orange cable car. From there, you can walk down to The Last Bookstore or head up to The Broad and Disney Hall, with its peaceful garden. I also love stopping by Little Tokyo for mochi or doughnuts.

I also really love the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, and just a short walk from there—past Tartine Bakery, where you can stop for pastries and coffee—is Fowler Garden, that seem to be a secret garden even for those living in Pasadena for years.

These are the things I’ve been actually showing and recommending to people 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A whole bunch of people had a hand in it. I started doing photography at 14, when my dad gave me my first point-and-shoot camera. My interest in photography came directly from my love of painting, which my mom had been nurturing since I was 2 years old.

Around the time I first picked up a camera, my sister Eva and my close friend Sonya also started their own photographic journeys. We practiced by taking pictures of each other, experimenting and learning together. All of these people were crucial in my story— later on, there were many others, including artists who inspired me in all kinds of ways.

If I had to credit a book, too – I’d pick Helmut Newton’s Autobiography.

Website: https://ianatokarchuk.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianatokarchuk/

Image Credits
Iana Tokarchuk