Elena  Lomakin

HOME        GALLERIES          ARTIST         CONTACT

“For an artist there are certain elements of scale, form and color

that  are beyond  verbal description.  I  can only  metaphorically

wave my arms at the pictures, - and say look!"

     Being a painter and an installation artist gives me a rare opportunity to approach these two genres in different ways.

    My paintings are small and detailed, and because of their delicacy and nuances, they always invite a close look. On the contrary, the installations that I create can sometimes stand from floor to ceiling and may easily occupy half of the room. Most of them are made of books, which to me are both: my "building material" and objects of constant inspiration.

    My fascination with books started more than 20 years ago when a really old book fell apart in my hands revealing some beautiful  "inner" parts usually hidden in the cover. It was the most wonderful discovery. Suddenly, all kinds of associations with the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome came to mind leading to my many experiments with books and to such installations as "Welcome to my Library", Homage to Rome", "Hidden Treasures" , etc.

    I have always been attracted to classicism and formal perfection, - therefore, it is my goal to make my works not only different, fresh and innovative, but also as beautiful and well balanced as possible in order to reach the ultimate harmony that only exists in Nature and Fine Art.

ELENA  LOMAKIN

American, born in Moscow, Russia

EDUCATION

1992-93          San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California

1984-89           Lomonosov University, Moscow, Russia

Two Interviews with Joe Nalven for San Diego Union Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/joe-nalven/2011/oct/05/elena-lomakin-prelude-to-a-birch-tree/

http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/joe-nalven/2011/may/11/elena-lomakin-revaling-the-beautiful-inner-parts/

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012              The upcoming Solo Show "Stripes of America",  February 24 - March 25, San Diego Art Institute

2011              "Prelude to a Birch Tree", Solo Show,  September 23 - November 5, Athenaeum Music and Arts Library

2010               "Invasion of Color", Solo Exhibition, February 26 - April 3, San Diego Art Institute

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

2012               The upcoming Group Show "Degrees of Departure", L Street Fine Art, San Diego, CA

2011               51th International Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

                       Juror - Roxana Velásquez ,  Executive Director, San Diego Museum of Art

                       Media Services Award

2010               19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, CA
                        Juror - John Wilson, Executive Director, Timken Museum, San Diego, CA

                        Third Place Award

2009               18^th Annual Juried Exhibition, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, CA
                        Jurors - Michael Krichman, Executive Director, inSite/San Diego - Tijuana                                 

                        Mathieu Gregoire, Artist and Project Manager, Stuart Collection, UCSD

                        Honorable Mention Award

                       50th International Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

                       Juror - Julia Marciari Alexander, PhD.,

                                  Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, San Diego Museum of Art

                       San Diego Art Institute Regional Exhibitions, San Diego, CA

                                      December Show, Juror - Amy Galpin

                                      October/ November Show, Juror - Alessandra Moctezuma

                                      August/ September Show, Juror - Debra Babilon

                                      July/ August Show, Juror - John Marciari

                                      May/June Show, Juror - Larry Baza

                                      January/February Show, Juror - Lynn Susholtz, Juror's Choice Award

2008               San Diego Art Institute Regional Exhibitions, San Diego, CA

                                       September Show, Juror - Joanna Bigfeather

                                       October/ November Show, Juror - Kevin Frietas

                                       December Show, Juror - Rochelle Kessler                          

                       Union Bank, in Conjunction with Ray at Night in North Park, San Diego, CA              

                       17^th Annual Juried Exhibition, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, CA
                        Jurors - Robin Clark, PhD, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
                        Deborah Klochko, Executive Director, Museum of Photographic Arts

            San Diego Art Institute Regional  Exhibition ( January ), San Diego, CA
                        Juror - Manuelita Brown, Juror's Choice  Award

2007                San Diego Watercolor Society Regional  Exhibition, ( November ), San Diego, CA
                        Juror - Ken Goldman, Best of Show Award

                        San Diego Art Institute Regional Exhibition, San Diego, CA

                                         February Show, Juror - Perry Vasquez

                                         March Show, Juror - Jeanne Dunn

                                        July Show, Juror - Stephen P. Curry

                                        September Show, Juror - Ann Berchtold

                                        October/ November Show, Juror - Susan Street

                                        December Show, Juror - Aida Mancillas                          

2006                California Open Exhibition, Tag Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
                        Juror - Laddie John Dill, Third Place

7^th National Juried Exhibition, Ceres Gallery, New York, New York
Juror - Cora Rosevear, Associate Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture,
Museum of Modern Art, New York

Southern California Regional Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
Juror - Susan Smith

San Diego Art Institute Regional Exhibition, San Diego, CA

                  February Show, Juror - William Feeney

                  March Show, Juror - Jeff Irwin

                  August Show, Juror - Ellen Osgood Phelan

                  September Show, Juror - Jean Lowe

2005                Southern California Regional Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
                        Juror - Osvaldo Sanchez,  Merit Award

                        San Diego Art Institute Regional Exhibition, ( December ), San Diego, CA
                        Juror - Peter Mitten