Yelena Lezhen — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Mar 24

Mar 24 Yelena Lezhen

Biography

Yelena Lezhen was born in Kiev, Ukraine. She graduated Kiev College of Art and Design and worked as a graphic designer after graduation. She immigrated to the USA in 1989. Currently, Yelena lives and works in New Jersey, USA.
Yelena Lezhen has participated in numerous art exhibitions and won several juried selection calls for art and awards. She exhibited and sold her art works at Art Hamptons 2016, NY Affordable Art Fair 2017, 2018, 2019, NY Scope 2020 and art exhibitions in Barcelona, Paris, Nice, Reggio Emilia (near Milan). She exhibits her works in the Museum of Russian Art (MORA) located at the New York Metropolitan Area on a regular basis. She had 3 solo exhibitions – at New York National Arts Club, and at Getaway Art Center (New York), and at the Manifest Destiny Gallery in Barcelona. Her paintings and drawings can be found in private collections around the world, including United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries.

Artist Statement

Yelena Lezhen's preferred media is oil, acrylic and ink on canvas and paper. Her works can be compared to meditation. The artistic process she goes through when she creates her art like building a puzzle. Her artistic puzzle occurs in a space of memories, imagination, and emotions she experiences at a given time. Yelena believes that humanity and nature are not separate - we must see them as one. In her art, she focuses on the connection between body, mind, soul, and nature.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

When I felt that my urge to draw and to express myself through line and colour was stronger than any other, that art brings me the incomparable sensation of life’s fullness and I want to share this feeling with others.

What kind of artist do you ultimately see yourself?

I feel that I found my own unique style. My works can not be replicated. Each comes in a single version and that is the secret of my art and my world.

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

In my works, that are reminiscent of a puzzle, I want to express my views on life, my connection with nature, and my thoughts about the infinity of cosmos, love, and the grace of light. I want my viewer to be transported into the world of fairy tale and fantasy. When looking at my work, an individual can put together the mysterious puzzle in her own way; future, present, past, illusions, predictions, everything except indifference and apathy.

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

The way I work is comparable to meditation. I look at the empty piece of paper and suddenly I begin to see a parallel world and all my existence begins to depend on my creativity and imagination. Everything that comes out of my subconscious; my memories, thoughts that come to my mind, texture of colors and lines applied on the paper, complete engagement with the world of everyday and events that touch me, all of this like a stream flows onto the paper or canvas. Sometimes it is a slow process that requires me to stop working on a piece until inspiration comes once again.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

The search for harmony. In a moment when I feel that I achieved it, when any additional line or brushstroke will be superfluous. The sense of completion.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspirations, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

For me, it is very important to feel like I am a contemporary artist and my works reflect the 21st Century. My last exhibit was in March 2020, before the beginning of the lockdown. This year was not easy for many but there was an opportunity to work a lot. Now I want to show what I created during this time. Currently, I am preparing for the Affordable Art Fair in NYC and I look forward to other exhibitions in the future. I hope that my best work is ahead of me and time will tell what themes I will be exploring.

Website: http://www.lenazhenart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yelenalezhenart/

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