Hi! I'm Alena [a-liO-na], a figurative artist who captures the every day stories of our time and place through painting
Dare to dream
Alena is a contemporary plein air artist working primarily in watercolour and oil, painting en plein air or otherwise from observation in the alla prima style (wet-on-wet direct painting, usually done in one session). Her subjects range from landscapes and architecture to objects often found at home and antique markets.
With a background in architecture and interior design, Alena brings a subtle but distinct graphic quality and structure to her work, along with a deep appreciation for interiors and objects.
Her eight years in tropical Singapore, along with extensive travels throughout Southeast Asia, have infused her palette with vibrant colours, energy, and light.
After years of balancing her roles as an artist and educator with a career in architecture and corporate and hospitality interior design, Alena made the bold decision to become a full-time artist in 2022 - and she hasn’t looked back since.
(photo by Valentina Conchie)
Current project
Alena Gastaldi’s current body of work explores the concept of home for those who are constantly living away from familiar surroundings. Having lived an expatriate life for the past 12 years, Alena has been drawn to the question of what defines 'home' when its physical presence is ever-changing. Rather than a fixed location, she investigates how people cultivate a "sense" of home - a fluid, evolving idea that differs from one temporary dwelling to the next.
Her paintings reflect these subtle yet intimate connections, capturing moments that represent the creation of home through new traditions and routines - be it visiting the local market, enjoying coffee in a favourite café, or the simple act of arranging personal items in a space. Over time, these objects and routines come to embody the spirit of home, with the clutter of everyday life forming natural still lifes that reveal the character of the inhabitants.
As Alena continues to settle into a new country, she documents this process of adaptation and discovery through her art. She paints objects found in markets, collected during walks, or encountered through new friendships, along with scenes from her own home as it develops. This practice is not only an artistic exploration but a way of grounding herself, offering viewers a deeply personal narrative on the evolving meaning of home.
Beyond painting, being a passionate treasure hunter, she has a deep appreciation for collecting objects, art, and furniture that reflects an eclectic historical aesthetic, overlayed with occasional humour where one least expects it. She's drawn to tactile and visual textures and have an affinity for excellent craftsmanship and the humorous quirkiness that can be found in the world.
As seen in:
Fun facts that are not supposed to be part of an artist's page, yet here they are
