Ivan Mikhailov was born on January 15, 1981, in Novocheboksarsk, Russia.
He has been working as a professional photographer since 2001.
In 2003, he graduated from the Chuvash State Pedagogical University with a degree in Fine Arts and Drawing.
2003–2007. Worked as a freelance designer and commercial photographer.
2008–2012. Worked on personal projects that were shown in group and solo exhibitions in Russia, Europe, and America.
2012–2013. Took part in art residencies in Düsseldorf and Paris.
2013–2014. Studied at the Joseph Backstein Institute of Contemporary Art, Moscow. 

2025 "Siyanie" Art Residency. Apatity

The artist uses photography as a tool for documentary visual research. In his works, he explores themes such as time and memory, and the interaction of the contemporary and post-Soviet in urban spaces. He documents the fleeting, that which is passing and disappearing. His projects cover the history of the Soviet space program with rockets on playgrounds, Chuvash paganism, family history, and the connection between generations. In recent years, the artist has been working on large-scale projects about the Volga River and the urban periphery.
His works are held in the collections of the Multimedia Art Museum, the Nizhny Novgorod Museum of Photography, the National Museum of Chuvashia, and in private collections in France, Italy, America, Canada, and Germany. He currently lives and works in Cheboksary.

Group Exhibitions:
2025, "Eternity and Its Remains," Shift Space, Moscow
2025, "Dreams of Home," Arsenal, Nizhny Novgorod
2025, "Focus: Photography," MYTH Gallery, Saint Petersburg
2025, "Chronicles of a Place," Ural Vision Gallery, Yekaterinburg
2025, "The House with Seven Wings," II Chuvash Biennale of Contemporary Art, Cheboksary
2025, "Contour. Photo," Art Fair, Nizhny Novgorod
2024, "Winter. Russian Style." Belyaevo Gallery, Moscow
2024, "Personal Circumstances," Shift Space, Moscow
2024, "Chuvash Forest," Chuvash State Art Museum, Cheboksary
2024, "Memory of the Unfulfilled," Center for Contemporary Art, Cheboksary
2024, "Football-Hockey," Vladey, Moscow
2024, "Black and White Space," Khodynka Gallery, Moscow
2016, Russian Cosmos, Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow
2016, Children of the Galaxy, Sihlquai55 Art Space, Zurich
2016, From Totem to Meme, Gridchinhall Art Residence, Dmitrovskoye
2015, Mari. Research / Chuvash. Research, Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow
2014, Ready for Launch?, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
2014, Contemporary Russian Photography, TEA, Santa Cruz, Spain
2014, Allegories of Oblivion, Centre Pompidou, Paris
2014, Russia – Beyond Stereotypes, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
2012, I am who i am, KIT Museum, Düsseldorf, Germany
2012, From Moscow with Love, PNDB Gallery, Dallas, USA
2012, Contemporary Russian Photography. Houston, USA
2012, 10 Curators / 10 Artists, Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York, USA
2011, LianzhouFOTO Festival, China
2011, Russian Cosmos, Castello di Rivoli, Turin, Italy
2011, Noorderlicht Photo Festival, Groningen, Netherlands
2011, Backlight Photo Festival, Tampere, Finland
2010, Inexpressible Hopes, Château d'Eau Gallery, Toulouse, France
2010, Time Within Us, Museum of Contemporary Art, Istanbul, Turkey

Solo Exhibitions:
2025, Volga, Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow
2023, Space of Silence, GUM, "Zenit," Moscow
2023, Dreams of Space, Rostokino Gallery, Moscow
2016, Beautification, Glaz Gallery, Moscow
2011, Playground, Atelier AM ECK Gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany
2010, Megapolis, Montmajour Abbey, Arles, France
2010, Space for Solitude, Project Fabrika, Moscow
2009, Megapolis, Zurab Tsereteli Gallery, Moscow