The Red Barn Studio Museum is pleased to announce that Elena Samarsky will be the Artist-in-Residence from February 7th to 27th, 2025.
Elena Samarsky, a Ukrainian-born Israeli artist based in New York, brings her vibrant and expressive abstract works to the heart of Lindsborg. Working primarily with acrylic paint on canvas and canvas panels, Elena’s art is driven by a fascination with natural landscapes and the expansive freedom they represent.
“I find creative freedom in remoteness, open areas, and natural landscapes. Immersing myself in the mesmerizing rural landscape surrounding Lindsborg with its quintessential town character will be a perfect fit for me,” said Samarsky. During her residency, Elena will focus on two ongoing series: “Birds of Paradise” and “The Birds-eye View of the Midwest.” These works draw from the diverse natural and manmade landscapes of the Midwest, reflecting her long-standing connection with rural art residencies across Missouri and Kansas.
As a self-taught artist influenced by Eastern European avant-garde and Abstract Expressionism, Samarsky’s process is characterized by bold colors, layered textures, and deliberate application techniques. Visitors to the Red Barn Studio Museum can expect to see a dynamic, evolving workspace where multiple paintings come to life simultaneously. “I often work on several paintings at once, layering paint and black ink, letting it drip and shape the final piece,” she explained. This interplay between movement and stillness creates textured surfaces through dents, gouges, and scratches, offering viewers a complex visual and emotional experience.
Elena’s journey as an artist began during her time in Vienna and Oxford, where she pursued her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Oxford. Her artistic practice was later shaped by experiences in Berlin, London, and ultimately New York City, where exposure to Abstract Expressionist collections deepened her artistic connection to the form. Her works have been exhibited across Europe and the United States, earning recognition in juried exhibitions and recently appearing on a billboard for the Noyes Museum in Atlantic City.
In addition to painting, Elena has collaborated with literary artists, contributing cover art for books and literary journals. In 2022, she co-authored the book “All Other Forms of Expression” with poet Timothy Tarkelly, which features a collection of paintings and poems.
Join us at the Red Barn Studio Museum on February 23rd from 2-4 for Elena’s reception.