Artist Statement​

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I often start with a meditation to connect with my untamed spirit. I do it by listening to the line moving across the paper to understand what it wants to express, and then surrendering to its desire. Listening to the line is much more important than guiding it because art is a direct way of communicating with the human spirit. Throughout my life, I’ve used art as a tool to help others, to open them up, to heal, and to start them on a new adventure. In reality, I was helping myself to find the courage to trust life and be ready to meet the unknown.

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Biography ​

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Elena Zelenina is a mixed-media artist who transforms fragments of broken ceramics, glass, found objects, and handmade paper into textured narratives of resilience, transformation, and inner freedom. Drawing on decades of cross-cultural experience in the United States, Russia, and India, her art explores the moment where fragility meets strength.

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Her recent series, including Shattered Moments Gathering, Walk Away, and Glass World, merges sculptural surfaces with layered symbolism, inviting viewers to uncover hidden meanings beneath the shimmer of light and texture. Each work is deeply rooted in personal story yet resonates universally, offering a meditation on renewal and the triumph of spirit over matter.

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Zelenina is a member of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), where she serves as Project Manager for NAWA Educational Projects and is a recipient of NAWA’s Mixed Media Award. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and art fairs and is held in private collections internationally. She lives and works in New Jersey.