Elena Mahno

Elena Mahno combines her backgrounds in visual arts, sciences, and design with her preferred medium – clay.  Typically working in series of 5–7 works, Elena embraces generative iteration, with each intermediate form serving as both an exploratory study and a standalone work in a series.

Her forms are intimate and sculptural, suggestive of feminine shapes yet lean towards abstraction. Inspired by motifs from both her past and present—from silhouettes of pinafores, a traditional symbol of women’s labour, to the stem cells from her graduate studies—they avoid distinct representation, paying tribute to ambiguity and hinting at possibilities. Themes of transformation, womanhood, and unlived life paths guide her practice.

Mahno's debut with LES is a beautiful example of her work through the timeless medium of clay, Mahno seeks to unearth and illuminate hidden narratives, rendering them into tangible forms. The result is flowing organic works that capture the essence of the artist’s emotion.