Katherine Turczan

Katherine Turczan is a Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). She holds an MFA from Yale University and a BFA from The Cooper Union. Her work explores Ukrainian history and identity through photography, focusing on post-Soviet realities and the impact of political upheavals like the Russian invasion. Her monograph From Where They Came (2023) documents her family’s history and the societal transformations in Ukraine from 1991 to 2008.

Notable exhibitions include From Where They Came at the Tweed Museum (2024) and Galerie C in Neuchâtel, Switzerland (2025). Turczan has received fellowships from the Guggenheim, Fulbright, McKnight, and Bush Foundations. Her projects often blend personal narrative with broader sociopolitical themes, using large-format photography to capture intimate portraits of individuals and communities.

Her research emphasizes documenting underrepresented voices, particularly women and children affected by conflict. The Guardian highlighted her work’s ability to juxtapose pre-war tranquility with contemporary turmoil, offering a nuanced counterpoint to media portrayals of Ukraine.