Elena Helfrecht (*1992) is a German visual artist based in Bavaria. Her practice revolves around the inner space and the phenomena of consciousness, emerging from an autobiographical context and opening up to the surreal and fantastic, at times grotesque. Interweaving memories, experiences, and imagination, she creates inextricable narratives with multiple layers of meaning, characterised by a visceral iconography. She is influenced by the folklore and landscapes of her home and her passion for Art History and Psychology.
Elena’s work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions internationally, at institutions and festivals such as South London Gallery (UK), Galleria Civica Cavour (IT), The Benaki Museum / Athens Photo Festival (GR), Technische Sammlungen Dresden (DE), and Photo Vogue Festival (IT). She was a recipient of the BJP International Photo Award, as well as the Sony World Photo Award, and the AOP Student Award. Among others, she was selected as one of the Bloomberg New Contemporaries, nominated for the FOAM Paul Huf Award, and selected as one of the FUTURES Photography Talents 2023. Her images have been featured and reviewed in numerous publications such as ZEIT, Financial Times Weekend, and BJP.
She has given lectures and talks at institutions such as the London College of Communication, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the University of Brighton, Arts University Bournemouth, and the University of Europe. Elena’s work is held in public and private collections.
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