Among the international set of artists currently exhibiting their work at Art Collect’s ACT V event at Monaco’s Espace 22 is Russian-Israeli artist Elena Papernaya. In an interview with Monaco Life, she explains the inspirations behind her latest collection, Horizons of Lightness.

At the launch of the temporary exhibition, which is being hosted by Espace 22 between 30th October and 12th November, Monaco Life met with one of the event’s standout contributors, Russian-Israeli artist Elena Papernaya.

Papernaya began her artistic career 12 years ago and has exhibited in France and Monaco throughout the past decade, but this is her first time exhibiting at Espace 22.

Horizons of Lightness

Her latest collection, Horizons of Lightness, is a masterclass in colour, movement, and emotion; it is a body of work that captures fleeting moments with brushstrokes that invite viewers to look beyond the canvas.

Horizons of Lightness offers a glimpse into her unique approach to balancing form and abstraction to create textured, light-filled compositions.

“I chose this name for my collection because these works evoke a sense of endlessness, as if they’re leading nowhere specific but capturing something magical—like looking up at the stars,” she tells Monaco Life.

The style in this abstract collection leans toward the meditative, with each piece offering a moment of pause rather than a straightforward representation.

Papernaya explains how she draws inspiration from the natural world—the sea, sky, landscape colours, and the shifting light of sunsets and sunrises—and spontaneous moments she feels compelled to share with the viewer.

“Every work has a story behind it,” she says.

Each painting blends layered tones and subtle contrasts, encouraging viewers to explore the visual and emotional depth of her work.

“When I paint, I want the viewer to feel drawn into the work, to lose themselves in it, and find a sense of curiosity and calm,” she adds.

One particular piece in Horizons of Lightness depicts twilight hues merging with a stark horizon, evoking calm and openness. The brushwork captures a quiet tension between stillness and motion, drawing the viewer into a reflective experience.

“I want the viewer to feel like they’re in another world, away from the materialistic one we are in,” she reveals.

Art and identity

Papernaya’s artistic repertoire also includes hyper-surrealist works characterised by intricate, realistic details. Although she studied architecture, she taught herself the art of painting, integrating principles and techniques from her architectural background into her hyper-surrealist pieces, which blend precision with imaginative elements. Additionally, she creates portraits, primarily focusing on commissioned works for private collections.

“I have known I wanted to be an artist since I was young. Growing up in a household filled with art and books about great artists like Michelangelo, I was constantly inspired by the images surrounding me. While I studied architecture, I always felt a strong pull towards the artistic path and knew I had to pursue it,” says Papernaya.

Having exhibited in Monaco for a decade, Papernaya reflects on the significance of this experience.

“Exhibiting in Monaco is important to me because it connects with audiences from around the world, and the art scene here is exceptionally vibrant and well-developed,” she explains.

As an active and engaged artist in Monaco’s cultural scene, Papernaya frequently participates in various exhibitions and events. She displays her automobile-themed art at the annual Top Marques show and also participates in the yearly automobile exhibition in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Additionally, on 2nd October, she held a personal exhibition at Monte-Carlo Bay, which showcased 25 of her works.

Her work was also featured at the 15th Monaco-Japan Artistic Meeting, held at the Auditorium Rainier III between 1st and 3rd November. This annual event, organised by the Committee for Japanese Cultural Exchange, aims to establish cultural dialogue between Japanese and Monaco-based artists.

In addition to her gallery work, Papernaya offers an immersive art experience through her performance art service called Peindre des souvenirs en temps réel, where she captures live moments on canvas in her signature style and produces custom paintings in real time.

For more information about Papernaya and her work, click here.

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Art Collect’s multi-artist ACT V coming to Monaco’s Espace 22

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