Elena Menga

I was born in Cremona, Italy, on november 21th 1971.After Political Science Degree, I decided to cultivate my passion for painting discovered when I was very young.So I've attended the courses of Art Academy (where I studied with Alberto Venditti) and the European Institute of Design in Milan where I specialized in illustration. Later I've specialized with the painter Micol De Palma.
By cultivating my passion for painting I understood that this way of expressing myself represents an attempt to inquiry into reality in all its expressions: the emotions deeply rooted in the irrationality of the human unconscious and the connection with the world outside. My paintings allow me to better comprehend my intellectual and sentimental complexities. My favorites subjects are feminine figures: I isolate and fix their essence in a eternal time and immutable space with obsessing brush strokes and a delineated mark. I like using oil because, through its consistency, is perfect to express my anxiety to sink into the essence of life looking for its authenticity.
Now I’m also illustrating for an English Publishing House.
AS ILLUSTRATOR:
"The first Italian classic from Real Reads is our wonderfully-retold version of the first part of Dante’s great epic, told in prose and terza rima by Isabel Coe and illustrated by the talented Italian illustrator Elena Menga".
http://realreads.co.uk/dante/titles/.

http://www.saatchionline.com/Elena1971
http://www.premioceleste.it/elenamenga

Exhibitions
2013
BERLIN 4: Reuss Galerie, group exhibition, 3/2013 Berlino
STRUMENTI-SPAZIO-MENTE: Raffaello Giolli Contemporary Art, group exhibition, 1-2/2013 Milano
THE PORTRAIT: APPEARANCE AND ENIGMA, 11Dreams Art Gallery, group exhibition, cur. Sofia Sicula, 12/2012-1/2013 Tortona
2012
THE PORTRAIT: APPEARANCE AND ENIGMA, 11Dreams Art Gallery, group exhibition, cur. Sofia Sicula
MITICI, Officine creative Ansaldo, project made with Regione Lombardia and Fondazione Milano, group exhibition, 11/2012 Milano
V Art Biennal in Monte-Carlo (Hotel de Paris), Gallery "La Telaccia", group exhibition, cur. Giuliana Papadia, 6-7/2012 Monte-Carlo
SIX ARTISTS, Gallery "La Telaccia", group exhibition, cur. Giuliana Papadia, 4/2012 Torino
2011
GRAFFI, Studio Iroko, group exhibition, cur. by Barbara Vincenzi,
12/2011 Milano
PARATISSIMA, Area cafè, group exhibition, cur. by Daniele Ratti e Francesca Canfora, 11/2011 Torino
SMALL SOLDIERS PROJECT, Teatro Espace, group exhibition, cur. by Claudio Lorenzoni, 7/2011 Torino
INTO THE ROOMS, Oldoni Grafica Editoriale, solo exhibition, cur. by Mauro Oldoni, 5-7/2011 Milano
2010
INTO THE ROOMS, Gallery Arthesis, solo exhibition, cur. by Fabio Serra, 11/2010-1/2011 Asti FLESH FLAVOUR, Sound Garden, solo exhibition, cur. by Laura Elsa Valente, 7/2010 Asti
100X100 ARTISTS, Rocca di Scandiano, group exhibition, cur. by Alberto Nasciuti, 6-9/2010 Reggio Emilia
GLI ANIMALI TRA ARTE E TERAPIA, Acquario, group exhibition in collaboration with the Municipality of Milano, 4/2010 Milano
2009
I RITRATTISTI, Gallery Il Borgo, group exhibition, cur. by Sabrina Falzone, 12/2009 Milano
PET THERAPY, Gallery Arte Reale, group exhibition in collaboration with the Municipality of Milano, 5/2009 Milano
2008
DECADENTISMI, Gallery Studio Logos, group exhibition, 5/2008 Roma
ALT IL CORPO E’ MIO, Gallery QuintoCortile, group exhibition, cur. by Donatella Airoldi and Mavi Ferrando, 5/2008 Milano
2007
SATURARTE 2007, Palazzo Stella, art work selected for the XII Prize of Contemporary Art, group exhibition, cur. by Mario Napoli and Mario Pepe, 11/2007 Genova
CONTEMPORANEA ART SHOW, Forlì Fiera, Gallery Alba, group exhibition, cur. by Roberto Puviani, 11/2007 Forlì
ACQUERELLI E OLII, Oldoni Grafica Editoriale, solo exhibition, cur. by Mauro Oldoni, 6-9/2007 Milano
2006
ARTEMISIA PRIZE, Atelier dell’Arco Amoroso, finalist art work, group exhibition, 12/2006 Ancona
OCCHI SU ROMA, Fahrenheit 451 Library, solo exhibition, 2-3/2006 Roma
L’ARTE GIOVANE, Gallery Atelier, group exhibition, 1-2/2006 Milano
2005
DIPINGI LA TUA ZONA, Palazzo Marino, art work selected in occasion of the Art Prize realized by the Municipality of Milano, group exhibition, 11-12/2005
PREMIO CELESTE, art work selected, group exhibition, 10/2005 San Gimignano

By cultivating my passion for painting I understood that this way of expressing myself represents an attempt to inquiry into reality in all its expressions: the emotions deeply rooted in the irrationality of the human unconscious and the connection with the world outside. My paintings allow me to better comprehend my intellectual and sentimental complexities. My favourite subjects are feminine figures: I isolate and fix their essence in a eternal time and immutable space with obsessing brush strokes and a delineated mark. I like using oil because, through its consistency, is perfect to express my anxiety to sink into the essence of life looking for its authenticity. Some of the the paintings selected are chose from a self-portraits series in which, as I was in front of a mirror, I try to express something deeper than appearance.