Painter, graphic artist, sculptor. Born in the Ukrainian city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region. Graduated from the Leningrad Institute of theatre, music and cinematography. Participated in regional exhibitions in Odessa and in Republican and all-Union. A number of solo exhibitions in museums of Odessa. Participated in the movement of non-conformists. Works are in private collections of Ukraine, USA, Canada, Holland, France, Israel, and in the museums of Ukraine.
He studied at the Odessa theatre art school (1952-59, with a break) and the Leningrad Institute of theatre, music and cinema (1965-69) in I. Korotkov, Yu Khovralev. Degree work – sketches of puppets, scenery and costumes (the temperature) to the formulation for the puppet theater "the Tale of two knights" AP Filippov.
In 1959-60s – makeup artist of Odessa academic theatre of Opera and ballet, 1960-65 – Odessa Ukrainian musical drama theatre.
From 1971 to 1981 he taught at the Odessa art College.
The author of paintings "city by the sea" (1968-69), "the boy at the Gums" (1971), "Santa with pears" (1971, Odessa art Museum), "Light and shadow" (1981, Odessa art Museum), etc.
Participant of exhibitions since 1968
Exhibition of works by Yuri Kovalenko took place in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1984 (Odessa), 1983 (Ishmael). The works of Y. Kovalenko was exhibited at international exhibitions (Bulgaria – 1972, Hungary – 1979, etc.)
Died in 2004 in Odessa.