Born in Dnipropetrovsk, Soviet Union, Ilya Kabakov spent three decades in Moscow, where he became a leading voice in the unofficial art scene. He initially worked as a children's book illustrator to support his practice before gaining international prominence for his conceptual works that critiqued the social and political realities of the Soviet era.

His signature medium, the total installation, transformed gallery spaces into elaborate, narrative-driven environments that invited viewers to inhabit fictionalized versions of Soviet apartments or public spaces. These works often utilized found objects and meticulous detail to evoke themes of memory, isolation, and the mundane nature of life under state control.

Following his emigration to the United States, Kabakov continued his practice in collaboration with his wife, Emilia Kabakov. Their work remains a subject of significant international interest, with recent projects such as the 2026 Venetian Diary installation continuing their exploration of collective identity and site-specific narrative environments.