Elena Menga

If you want to contact me, please write me at mengaelena@yahoo.it

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 the Art Academy Scuola di Arte Applicata del Castello Sforzesco (where I studied with Alberto Venditti) and the European Institute of Design in Milan where I specialized in illustration. Then I've improved myself at Micol De Palma's study.
I currently live and work in Milan, where I do exhibitions. Some of my works are exhibited at the Galleria La Telaccia of Turin and at the 11 Dreams Art Gallery of Tortona (AL).
Now I am working as an illustrator for an English Publishing House. For Real Reads, I've illustrated a retold version of Dante's Inferno (the book is available on amazon.com).
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.

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/
www.premioceleste.it/elenamenga

ART EDUCATION
2005-2007 Specialization course at Micol De Palma’s study, Milan
2003-2004 European Institute of Design (Illustration), Milan
2000-2003 Painting at “Scuola di Arte Applicata del Castello Sforzesco”, Milan (where I studied with Alberto Venditti)

"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/

The book is available on amazon.com!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906230528?ie=UTF8&tag=rearea-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1906230528

2013
STATEMENTS 2013.2: Circoloquadro, group exhibition curated by Ivan Quaroni, 6/2013
LET YOU HEAD WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED: Teatro Litta, group exhibition, 5/2013
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,12/2012-1/2013 Tortona
2012
THE PORTRAIT: APPEARANCE AND ENIGMA, 11Dreams Art Gallery, group exhibition, 12/2012-1/2013 Tortona
2011
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,6-7/2012 Monte-Carlo
SIX ARTISTS, Gallery "La Telaccia", group exhibition, 4/2012 Torino
2011
GRAFFI, Studio Iroko, group exhibition, 12/2011 Milano
PARATISSIMA, Area cafè, group exhibition, 11/2011 Torino
SMALL SOLDIERS PROJECT, Teatro Espace, group exhibition, 7/2011 Torino
INTO THE ROOMS, Oldoni Grafica Editoriale, solo exhibition, 5-7/2011 Milano
2010
INTO THE ROOMS, Gallery Arthesis, solo exhibition, 11/2010-1/2011 Asti
FLESH FLAVOUR, Sound Garden, solo exhibition, 7/2010 Asti
100X100 ARTISTS, Rocca di Scandiano, group exhibition, 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, 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, 5/2008 Milano
2007
SATURARTE 2007, Palazzo Stella, art work selected for the XII Prize of Contemporary Art, group exhibition, 11/2007 Genova
CONTEMPORANEA ART SHOW, Forlì Fiera, Gallery Alba, group exhibition, 11/2007 Forlì
ACQUERELLI E OLII, Oldoni Grafica Editoriale, solo exhibition, 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

Publications
“Ritratto, apparenza ed enigma”, Panorama (Tortona), 28/11/2012
"Ritratto, apparenza ed enigma", Il Piccolo (Alessandria), 23/11/2012
“5° Biennale d’Arte a Monte-Carlo 2012”, ArteiN, 6/ 2012
“5° Biennale d’Arte a Monte-Carlo 2012”, Arte Mondadori, 6/2012
Graffi, Catalogue 2012
"L’originale espressionismo nelle stanze di Elena Menga", La Stampa (Torino), 27/11/2010
Milano: alla Galleria Il Borgo l’esposizione ‘I Ritrattisti’. In mostra fino al 7 dicembre, Eco di Milano (www.ecodimilano.com), 2-12-2009
Gli animali tra arte e terapia, Catalogue 2010
Pet therapy, Catalogue 2009
Saturarte 2007, Catalogue
Premio Artemisia 2007, Catalogue
Premio Artemisia 2006, Catalogue
Premio Celeste 2005, Catalogue
Dipingi la tua zona, Catalogue 2005