About Elena
Elena’s longtime influences include the avant-garde Nabis and Fauve artists of the early twentieth century, particularly Edouard Vuillard; the Expressionist paintings of Chaim Soutine; the Brut Art of Jean Dubuffet; Giorgio Morandi’s still-life paintings; and Joan Mitchell’s vibrant abstractions. Late diagnoses of ADHD and synesthesia have given her a new understanding of her intermingled sensorial perceptions of sounds, colors, and language, and this recently gained awareness deeply informs her art. From her heritage, she draws a fascination with the culture of ancient Greece, especially the philosophy of Eudaimonia and painted ceramics uncovered by archaeologists. She occasionally refers directly to this culture—for example, through references to the mythological Fates, the three goddesses who determined every human’s destiny.
In her artistic practice, Elena acts much like one of those allegorical Fates, shaping the identity of each of her works from start to finish. She excavates the past and seeks equilibrium in the present through her layering and manipulation of her materials, through the building up and gradual revealing of her imagery. Since her return to the studio several years ago, she has exhibited her art in group exhibitions around the United States. She lives and works in Massachusetts.
