All images by Olha Stepanian. Used with permission.
What I love about fine-art photography is that it gives photographers the freedom to push boundaries and experiment with ideas. When I first came across the work of Olha Stepanian, I was immediately drawn to her use of shape, balance, and a quiet sense of eccentricity that runs through her images.
Stepanian creates with the clear intention of her photographs existing as fine-art prints. These are pieces designed to live on a wall, fully visible, inviting repeated viewing rather than a quick scroll. With that in mind, the idea of a half-naked man dressed as Batman drinking milk shouldn’t work. And yet, it does. Remarkably well.
Her work is well suited to those who want to feel a sense of connection and calm when engaging with art. The images sit comfortably between style and liberation, appealing to viewers who want something thoughtful and slightly off-centre, removed from familiar visual norms.
Speaking with Stepanian, I asked her to reflect on her early life and consider how it may have shaped her creative mindset. Despite the boundary-pushing nature of her work, her upbringing was relatively ordinary. She grew up with her mother and spent much of her time immersed in ballet, art, and gym classes. “I only started taking photos when I was 25,” she told me.
Turning to the present, I was curious to understand where her inspiration now comes from and how ideas begin to form. “I love talking to viewers through photography. Talking about everything,” she said. She went on to explain that she finds the most satisfaction when people don’t simply look at her images, but “look into their essence, searching for depth.”
In today’s image-driven culture, creation is often fast and constant. It’s rare for a piece of work to take months, let alone years, as many creatives push themselves to meet the pace of social media. Stepanian works differently. Her process begins with pencil and paper, sketching ideas long before a camera is involved. In some cases, years pass before an image is finally made.
When asked why, she explained, “Because after sketching, I am looking for the person who is already in this photo,” something that can take a long time.
Once that person is found, vulnerability often becomes part of the process. Whether through nudity or unorthodox scenarios, her images suggest moments that exist just outside of comfort zones. “I always make sure they’re comfortable,” she said. “My subjects tend to trust me and often come to set without asking what they will need to do. It’s very nice to know that people trust me so much.”
Stepanian’s photography career developed quickly. She first picked up a camera in 2010, and by 2012 she had already held her first solo exhibition. Since then, her work has appeared in group exhibitions around the world, including New York, Kyiv, Milan, and Munich.
Reflecting on that first exhibition, she said, “It was wonderful! Exhibitions are very important for creative people; they are like a new step and a move forward.” Looking ahead, she hopes to bring future solo exhibitions to cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
Before bringing our conversation to a close, I asked Stepanian whether music plays a role in her creative process. She spoke about her love for jazz, a choice that feels fitting. Its classic, expressive tones align naturally with the atmosphere and rhythm of her work.
My final question was simple: why do you need photography in your life? Her answer was just as direct. “Because it’s my air.”
You can enjoy more work by Olha Stepanian by visiting her website and Instagram.
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