Yaroslav Krestovsky studied at the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin, where he trained under the famous artist Isaak Brodsky. After graduation, Krestovsky worked for a few years as a teacher at an art school in Yaroslavl. Later he moved to Moscow and began working as an independent artist.

Krestovsky was primarily known for his paintings of cityscapes and landscapes, often depicting the streets and buildings of Moscow and St. Petersburg. His works are characterized by a distinctive style that blends realism with impressionism, using bold brushstrokes and vivid colors to capture the atmosphere of the scenes he painted. Krestovsky was also skilled at creating portraits and still lifes, and his works were exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Russia and abroad.

Krestovsky received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the title of Honored Artist of Russia in 1986 and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1995. He was a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR and the Russian Federation, and his works can be found in many private and public collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery and the State Russian Museum. Krestovsky passed away in Moscow in 2004, but his legacy lives on through his artwork.