Elena was born in Moscow into a family of well-known journalists who regularly attended exhibitions and vernissages together with their circle of friends—artists and art historians. From a very young age, she was immersed in this cultural environment, an experience that undoubtedly influenced her future career choice, even if she did not pursue it immediately.
After finishing
school, she enrolled at the Moscow Technical University. Later, encouraged by
advice from artist friends—believing she had already developed a unique style
that should not be altered—she decided to continue at the Faculty of Art and
Graphics of the Moscow Pedagogical Institute. Back then, it was the only
institution in the city offering higher education in drawing and fine arts.
In her third year,
Elena became a member of the UNESCO City Graphics Committee and began
participating in exhibitions in Moscow and Siberia. Around the same period,
private galleries and exhibition spaces started to open, offering opportunities
not only to display but also to sell artworks. Her pieces were soon presented
in numerous galleries and auction houses in Moscow and entered private
collections in the United States, Kazakhstan, and Norway.
Today, Elena – also
known as Monacuba - is a member of the Professional Union of Artists. She has
established herself as a professional artist with a distinctive style and an
independent perspective on both art and the wider world.
We tried to find out a little more about her journey in the art
field in an interview that we reproduce below.
Cosmina / PPG: Let’s
begin with a short introduction. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how
your artistic journey started?
Elena: I am an artist from
Moscow. My career as an artist began in childhood, when my parents, who often
visited the Tretyakov Gallery and loved art very much, gave me a canvas and oil
paints—without realizing that a thinner was also needed. Still, I painted butterflies
and animals without any diluent. I was 8 years old.
Cosmina:
How do you personally define art?
Elena: I think art is
self-expression, communication, and love for people and for the world.
Cosmina: How would you characterize your art and the subjects you are most drawn
to?
Elena: For a contemporary
artist it is difficult to define a single style, but I enjoy mixing realistic
images with abstraction, which allows me to stay open to the viewer and convey
emotions. In Russian Gallery magazine,
art critics described my work through the principles of “emergence.”
Cosmina:
What are your main sources of
inspiration? Are there artists from history you feel connected to?
Elena: I find inspiration in
nature, in people, in great books, and of course in the masters of the past,
who shaped my vision of art and of the world. The most important artists for me
are Botticelli, El Greco, and Joan Miró, but I love all great art!
Cosmina: What would you say were the turning points in your artistic career?
Elena: Probably in 2022,
when my country attacked Ukraine, my aesthetic and humanistic foundations—core
to my art—were shaken. Another key moment was my collaboration with People
& Paintings Gallery, which gave me the opportunity to feel recognized as an
artist.
Cosmina: Looking ahead, what are your current goals or dreams for your artistic
practice?
Elena: I am an established
artist with my own original style, but contemporary art is complex and I will
not rest on my laurels. By nature, I always strive for perfection. And of
course, I will continue working with P&P Gallery, which gives me so much
support.
Cosmina: Thank you very much! Elena proposes complex compositions, most of
them combining the abstract with realistic elements, in vibrant colors or
neutral backgrounds that highlight colorful accents. We invite you to explore
her art by accessing her profile on the gallery's website – [https://peopleandpaintings.com/monacuba]
An interview by Cosmina-Marcela
Oltean,
PPG media moderator & art writer
