Biography

Elena Karavodin was born in Los Angeles, CA, and raised in Encinitas, CA. She began her formal art education at Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA receiving her B.F.A. with an emphasis in Illustration. In 2010, Elena joined the collective of ArtHatch’s Studio Artists in Escondido, CA, and contributed as ArtHatch’s Gallery Manager for almost 5 years. Elena now works in her private home studio, which along with her family, they built from the ground up. She creates custom commissioned art for collectors companies around the country. Her work has been shown in various exhibitions throughout the United States. Elena lives in San Diego with her husband and young son, who’s daily discoveries and growth inspire her to push her creative process even further.

Artist Statement

“Art is my tool to explore emotions, express thoughts, and share ideas. Storytelling is the cornerstone of each of my paintings. I am fascinated by topics about the fragility of human nature, our own twisted past, life experiences and the environment that we find ourselves in. Working with bright colors and loose texture, I produce images that are often layered and pieced together.  The complete vision of each painting only fully comes together through the final process of painting. Sometimes, morphing into a different story than from what I originally intended. Art has a way of communicating its own desired direction. I encourage viewers to look deeper into my art, until they find something new, something they hadn’t seen at first glance. Together with self-expression, I use my art as a tool for social speculation, inquiry, and the evocation of raw emotions.”

EXHIBITIONS

2024 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2023 – 20th Anniversary Show, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2023 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2023 – Represented Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2022 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2021 – Now or Never, Solo Show, City of Encinitas Civic Arts Program, Community Center, Encinitas, California
2021 – ArtHatch Studios Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2020 – Save the Artists – A COVID Buster Fundraiser, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2020 – Downtown Meets Uptown, The Studio Door with Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2019 – C-NOTE, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, California
2019 – KAABOO with Distinction Gallery, Del Mar, California
2019 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2019 – Minis, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2019 – RENEGADE, Solo Show, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2018 – Perfect 10, La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, California
2018 – KAABOO with Distinction Gallery, Del Mar, California
2018 – IMMORTALIZED: Flamen Bettys, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2018 – Sexy Beast, The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2018 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2018 – Minis, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2018 – Laluzapalooza, La Luz de Jesus, Hollywood, California
2017 – IMMORTALIZED: Lipstick and Chrome, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California – Awarded “Best in Show”
2017 – Exhibition of Fine Art, San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, California
2017 – Furs, Tails, Feathers, and Scales, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2017 – Minis, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2017 – Edge of the Ocean, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2017 – ArtHatch Art-A-Thon, 24-Hour Event and Exhibition, ArtHatch, Escondido, California
2016 – BLOOM: Solo Show, Carlsbad Dove Library, Carlsbad, California
2016 – Coaster Show, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2016 – IMMORTALIZED: Sometimes Beauty Never Fades, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2016 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2016 – Resonance, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2016 – Verdant, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2015 – 10×10, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2015 – Prints on Wood, Distinction Gallery, San Diego, California
2015 – Persona, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2015 – IMMORTALIZED: The One That Got Away, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2015 – One on One, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, California
2015 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2015 – TEAL: North County Painters Group Show, Vista Library, Vista, California
2014 – 10th Annual ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2013 – ArtHatch Studio Artists, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2013 – The Prodigy Show: Hipstamatic Addict Insane, Juried by Joseph Bellows, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2013 – From Blanks 2 Beauty, Synergy Art Foundation, San Diego, California
2013 – The Sketchbook Project & Nationwide Tour, Art House Co-op, Brooklyn, New York, New York
2013 – ArtHatch Art-A-Thon, 24-Hour Event, ArtHatch, Escondido, California
2012 – Studio Artists: A Group Exhibition, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2012 – Reflective Narratives: An All Female Exhibition, 98 Bottles, San Diego, California
2012 – Art in the Pines, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
2012 – Paint & Pints, Aztec Brewery, Vista, California
2012 – San Dieguito Academy Alumni Art Exhibition, San Dieguito Academy, Encinitas, California
2012 – ArtHatch Art-A-Thon, 24-Hour Event, ArtHatch, Escondido, California
2011 – From Blanks 2 Beauty, Synergy Art Foundation, San Diego, California
2011 – Cut Out for This: A Cutting Edge Art Show, Thumbprint Gallery, San Diego, California
2011 – Studio Artists: A Group Exhibition, Distinction Gallery, Escondido, California
2011 – Mixology of Artists, San Diego Spirits Festival, San Diego, California
2009 – Multiplicity, Juried Exhibition, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, Illinois
2007 – Exhibition of Fine Art, Juried Exhibition, San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, California
2006 – Women of the World National Art Show, Juried Exhibition, MOMS Gallery, Ashland, Oregon
2006 – Art Affaire, Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild, Rancho Santa Fe, California
2005 & 2006 – ArtWalk, Juried Art Fair, Little Italy, San Diego, California
2004  – “enGENDERING the Future”, Juried by Marie Cartier & Ed Giardina, SCA Gallery, Pomona, California
2003 – Postcards from the Edge, Visual AIDS Benefit, Galerie Lelong, New York, New York
2003 – Night of 1,000 Drawings, Juried Exhibition, Artist Space, New York, New York
2003 – Benchmark Project, Juried Public Art, San Diego, California
2002 – LCAD Senior Exhibition, Laguna Beach, California
2002 – Untitled, Gallery 821, Laguna Beach, California
2000 – Monthly Art Exhibition, White House Restaurant, Laguna Beach, California

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

Brooklyn Art Library, New York, New York

ORGANIZATIONS

The Portrait Society of America
San Diego Visual Arts Network
ArtHatch Studio Artists
Oceanside Museum of Art Artist Alliance
North County Painters Critique Group
Distinction, Gallery Manager 2011 – 2015

PRESS

August 2022 – Canvas Rebel
September 2021 – SDVoyager
July 2021 – National Coalition Against Censorship
July 2021 – The San Diego Union Tribune
July 2021 – The Coast News
December 2020 – Trekell Featured Artist
May 2020 – Shoutout Socal
March 2019 – Beautiful Bizarre
March 2019 – San Diego CityBeat
March 2019 – KPBS
February 2019 – Women’s Collaborative Post
February 2019 – Times-Advocate
May 2018 – SDVoyager
August 2016 – Voice of San Diego: Arts and Culture News
February 2013 – Union Tribune San Diego
November 2012 – Union Tribune San Diego
April 2012 – San Diego City Beat
October 2011 – KPBS