From war zones to art school — this is the story behind the lens.

I’m Yuliia Kozyrkova — a Ukrainian-born photographer, visual storyteller, and public speaker.

Photography first came into my life as a way to make sense of survival. I carried my phone and camera through evacuations, displacement, and rebuilding. It helped me see moments of beauty where I didn’t expect to find them — and reminded me I still had a voice.

In 2022, after being displaced by war, I arrived in the U.S. with nothing but my family, my photos, and a desire to keep creating. Since then, I’ve used my camera not only to document but to connect — capturing moments that speak to resilience, identity, and the quiet strength of everyday people.

I’ve worked closely with nonprofits and community groups to tell real stories: of refugee families, immigrant women, and underrepresented youth. Every image is a love letter to survival — and to the idea that even in chaos, there is beauty worth remembering.