interview — Interviews — The Shanghai Art Fair

Elena Seroff is a contemporary New York-based artist who works in abstract painting, drawing, and printmaking. Born in 1975 in the coastal city Kaliningrad (Konigsberg), Elena developed a passion for art at a young age and dedicated herself to honing her craft. She spent her teenage years in Estonia. After finishing high school in Paldiskiy, Elena studied fashion design at LEX University in Tallinn. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Elena returned to her hometown, where she earned a diploma from the Art and Industry College in Decorative Art. In 1996, Elena immigrated to New York, where perspectives on art continued to develop and evolve. In 2010, she participated in the two-year program for figurative drawing at The National Academy and School of Fine Art and Chelsea Classical Studio in New York.

Despite being an impressionist artist, Elena decided to branch out and start creating abstract art. This new direction has allowed her to explore deeper themes and emotions through her work. Elena often incorporates her experiences and feelings in her abstract paintings, adding intimacy and vulnerability to her art. Elena's transition from impressionist to abstract art has been an exciting evolution in her career. It showcases her versatility as an artist and her willingness to take risks to grow and evolve.

Being passionate about art, Elena started Clarus Art Studio in 2015. The same year, she began working as an art director at The Pushkin Society of America. Later, she founded The Pushkin Society Artists Guild for established and emerging artists, where she curated many art and literature events. Elena also serves as Founder and Art Director for Artios Gallery, a curated online gallery that showcases contemporary artists selected for their unique creative vision. In 2021, Elena participated in the group exhibition "Sciarsism" at the Kyiv History Museum, Ukraine. She received The Best Artist in Abstract award during the show and exhibited at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA). Currently, Elena lives and works in New York City.

What is so unique about your artworks? How do you work?

I am an artist whose work spans both impressionist and abstract styles. My unique approach is to capture light and color with my willingness to delve into deeper themes through my abstract work. I am drawn towards the simple, unpretentious, and quotidian in framing my vision of reality. This sensibility can be reflected in my abstract series "Love in Three Colors" and "Adam & Eve Rebirth," which depict emotional connections between people, passions, and expressions of love that provoke a sense of movement as a continuation of life.

Like the Spiral Dynamics Model theory, human creativity has been developed and improved over centuries. I look for rhythm and balance in composition through color and line. Form comes first, and color is a complementary factor. Spontaneity is not for my creative process. First, I create different compositions by sketching using colored pencils and watercolors and modifying or adding color combinations to find the right balance. After I find a suitable design and am satisfied, I start working with the canvas. I prefer to work with oil paint, which allows me to use the glazing technique. Lately, I've been adding a style of Pointillism, enabling me to find the desired transformation to soften from dark to light tones in my art.

What is your background?

I started my journey in art at the age of 14. Raised in a family of military personnel, I changed three schools. As a high school student, I enrolled in an after-school art class. I do not recall the name of my first art teacher. However, I remember my first painting lesson and a still-life setup composition with a Rowan Tree branch in a vase. Having never held a brush and not knowing where to start, the art teacher sat me down in front of the composition and said, "Start painting." Attending an art class was very interesting, and I quickly began to gain the skills of a real artist. A year later, my group and I participated in a regional art competition for talented students, where I received an honor diploma for successful participation.

The passion for art came to me from my maternal grandfather, Valentin. I only knew a little about him since we didn't communicate often. But every time I visited his home, I saw a lot of photographs, canvases, and stretchers lying on the floor. He was an excellent photographer, painter, and a gifted furniture-making craftsman. While his name might not have echoed the grandeur of Serov Valentin Alexandrovich, my grandfather, Serov Valentin Petrovich, carved his path of brilliance in his unique and talented way.

Where do you get your inspiration? What are the main directions in your creative path?

I began my artistic journey with realism, fueled by a deep appreciation for academic art. However, my passion led me away from conventional forms embracing abstract thinking. Delving into Cubism and Abstraction, I realized that these artistic realms align more closely with my philosophy about art. Among the pioneers who inspired me from the early 20th century are Juan Gris, Vasily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Lyubov Popova, and others.

Human beings are inherently emotionally and physically unstable entities, reflecting life's endless transformation. An excellent example of this transformation is Pablo Picasso, who continuously changed his artistic style throughout his creative evolution.

Presently, my primary artistic focus is around Suprematism and Geometric Abstraction. I aim to prompt viewers to engage in contemplation and free-thinking, much like the dynamic and ever-changing nature of life and humanity.

What is your life quote/motto?
Never stop. Move forward and make plans. Believe into yourself, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.