Elena Mahno combines her backgrounds in visual arts, sciences, and design with her preferred medium – clay. Pushing the boundaries of form construction, her works 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.

Elena has exhibited nationally and internationally including in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto. She’s currently based in Brooklyn, NY.