Olivier Yoan is a French photographer and visual artist based in Paris. He has been working in the field of photography for over 10 years, and his work has been featured in numerous publications, exhibitions, and festivals around the world.
Yoan was born in Paris in 1982 and grew up surrounded by art and culture. His father was a painter, and his mother was a sculptor, so it's no surprise that he developed an interest in the visual arts at an early age. He began experimenting with photography as a teenager, taking pictures of his friends and family.
Yoan studied photography at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, where he graduated with honors in 2006. After graduation, he began working as a freelance photographer for various magazines and newspapers. His work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Elle, GQ, The New York Times Magazine, Le Monde Magazine, and many others.
In addition to his commercial work, Yoan also creates personal projects that explore themes such as identity, memory, and nostalgia. His photographs often feature dreamlike scenes that evoke a sense of longing for something lost or forgotten. He has exhibited his work at galleries around the world including the Centre Pompidou in Paris; the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York; the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London; and many others.
Yoan's work has also been featured at numerous international festivals including Les Rencontres d'Arles; PhotoEspaña; Photoville NYC; Fotofest Houston; Format Festival Derby; PhotoIreland Festival Dublin; Encontros da Imagem Braga; Photoquai Biennale Paris; and more. In 2020 he was awarded the Prix Pictet Photography Prize for his series “The Unseen” which explores themes of invisibility through portraits of people living on the margins of society.
Olivier Yoan continues to push boundaries with his photography by creating thought-provoking images that challenge our preconceived notions about identity and belonging.