Elena Thomas is a multidisciplinary artist that creates photographs, sculptures, site specific work, and experience driven interactive installations. She grew up in Washington State, received her B.A. in Art with a minor in Mathematics from Pitzer College, and received her MFA in Visual Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art. Her work focuses on spatial relationships and shifting perspectives. She explores, and invites others to explore, the different possibilities of space and perception. She subverts expectations in order to provide people with an opportunity to reconsider how and what they perceive. Through her art she also encourages people to reclaim their sense of wonder of materials and spaces that have become commonplace.
Education
2018
MFA, Visual Studies, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
2014
BA, Studio Art and Math (minor), Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
Exhibitions/Installations
2024
Objects in Space, Two Person Exhibition, Neighbors West Northwest Nonprofit, Portland, OR.
2022
Unlimited 2022, Group Exhibition, PAGE Space, Portland, OR.
Around Oregon Annual Exhibition 2022, Group Exhibition, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR.
Where the Squares Aren't, Public Art Installation, City of Auburn Art on Main Installation Space, Auburn, WA.
2021
Emergence, Online Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest Sculptors, Portland, OR.
2020
2020 Winter Show of Miniatures and Small Works, Group Exhibition, Parkland Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
Squares At A Glance, Virtual Solo Show.
Unlimited 2020, Online Group Exhibition, PAGE Space.
ARTV, Live Instagram Art Show, Art Design Xchange, Portland, OR.
From the Bridge, Portland Small Works Purchase, Public Art Collection via Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR
2019
Gifted, Holiday Night Market, Art Design Xchange, Portland, OR.
Unlimited 2019, Group Exhibition, Page Space, Place Design Studio, Portland, OR.
Art Design Xchange Open House - XOXO Festival, Portland, OR.
2018
Transform, Group Exhibition, Siren Nation Visual Art Show, Portland’5 Center for the Arts, Portland, OR.
Urban Landscapes, Suburban Scenes, Rural Impressions, NYC4PA Group Exhibition, Jadite Gallery, New York, NY.
Poetics of Light, Online Group Exhibition, Black Box Gallery.
Unlimited 2018, Group Exhibition, PAGE Space, Portland, OR.
2018 MFA Thesis Show, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
2017
Fold the Fabric and the Figure Folds, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
CAESURA, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
2016
Theft, Group Exhibition, Lodge Gallery, Located in the lobby of Allied Works Architecture, Portland, OR.
2015
Viewpoint: Landscape and Architecture, Black Box Online Group Exhibition
Urban Landscapes-Rural Impressions, NYC4PA Group Exhibition, Jadeite Gallery, New York, NY
Memory Bank, Inventory of Memory Book Arts Exhibition, Concordia University's Webster Library, Montreal, Canada,
Flock of Secrets, Swarm of Lies, Group Exhibition, Umpqua College, Roseburg, OR
2014
The Big C, Linus Art Galleries Online Exhibition, Pasadena, CA
(Dis)order, Group Exhibition, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
2013
Climbable Sculpture, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, (Temporary Installation)
Love at Home, Group Exhibition, Kate Alkarni Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011
Public art Installation, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA (Designed, created, and installed ceramic tiles for bench)
Artist Talks
2020
Unlimited 2020 Artist Discussion Panel
2018
Structure Exposure - Moving Towards Understanding: Art, Movement, Structure, and Empathy, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
Residencies
2014
Currents, Ayatana Artist Research Program, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Publications
2022
Art Seen Issue #5, Art Catalogue, The Curator's Salon
2014
Gaining Height. Methods of Flight, Falling Right, Ayatana Artist Research Program Catalogue/Book Collection
Other
2024
Curated Objects in Space Exhibition
2023
Commissioned to site specific sculpture installation for private collector
Commissioned to design book cover
2021
Accepted onto the Public Artist Roster of the Washington State Arts Commission
2015
Urban Landscapes, NYC4PA Photo Contest, First Place, New York, NY
2018
MFA, Visual Studies, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
2014
BA, Studio Art and Math (minor), Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
Exhibitions/Installations
2024
Objects in Space, Two Person Exhibition, Neighbors West Northwest Nonprofit, Portland, OR.
2022
Unlimited 2022, Group Exhibition, PAGE Space, Portland, OR.
Around Oregon Annual Exhibition 2022, Group Exhibition, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR.
Where the Squares Aren't, Public Art Installation, City of Auburn Art on Main Installation Space, Auburn, WA.
2021
Emergence, Online Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest Sculptors, Portland, OR.
2020
2020 Winter Show of Miniatures and Small Works, Group Exhibition, Parkland Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
Squares At A Glance, Virtual Solo Show.
Unlimited 2020, Online Group Exhibition, PAGE Space.
ARTV, Live Instagram Art Show, Art Design Xchange, Portland, OR.
From the Bridge, Portland Small Works Purchase, Public Art Collection via Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR
2019
Gifted, Holiday Night Market, Art Design Xchange, Portland, OR.
Unlimited 2019, Group Exhibition, Page Space, Place Design Studio, Portland, OR.
Art Design Xchange Open House - XOXO Festival, Portland, OR.
2018
Transform, Group Exhibition, Siren Nation Visual Art Show, Portland’5 Center for the Arts, Portland, OR.
Urban Landscapes, Suburban Scenes, Rural Impressions, NYC4PA Group Exhibition, Jadite Gallery, New York, NY.
Poetics of Light, Online Group Exhibition, Black Box Gallery.
Unlimited 2018, Group Exhibition, PAGE Space, Portland, OR.
2018 MFA Thesis Show, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
2017
Fold the Fabric and the Figure Folds, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
CAESURA, Group Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR.
2016
Theft, Group Exhibition, Lodge Gallery, Located in the lobby of Allied Works Architecture, Portland, OR.
2015
Viewpoint: Landscape and Architecture, Black Box Online Group Exhibition
Urban Landscapes-Rural Impressions, NYC4PA Group Exhibition, Jadeite Gallery, New York, NY
Memory Bank, Inventory of Memory Book Arts Exhibition, Concordia University's Webster Library, Montreal, Canada,
Flock of Secrets, Swarm of Lies, Group Exhibition, Umpqua College, Roseburg, OR
2014
The Big C, Linus Art Galleries Online Exhibition, Pasadena, CA
(Dis)order, Group Exhibition, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
2013
Climbable Sculpture, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, (Temporary Installation)
Love at Home, Group Exhibition, Kate Alkarni Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011
Public art Installation, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA (Designed, created, and installed ceramic tiles for bench)
Artist Talks
2020
Unlimited 2020 Artist Discussion Panel
2018
Structure Exposure - Moving Towards Understanding: Art, Movement, Structure, and Empathy, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
Residencies
2014
Currents, Ayatana Artist Research Program, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Publications
2022
Art Seen Issue #5, Art Catalogue, The Curator's Salon
2014
Gaining Height. Methods of Flight, Falling Right, Ayatana Artist Research Program Catalogue/Book Collection
Other
2024
Curated Objects in Space Exhibition
2023
Commissioned to site specific sculpture installation for private collector
Commissioned to design book cover
2021
Accepted onto the Public Artist Roster of the Washington State Arts Commission
2015
Urban Landscapes, NYC4PA Photo Contest, First Place, New York, NY
