Helena Wurzel
Studio 8
About
I make paintings to tell stories about the lives of women, rooted in the concept of personal narrative and inherently tied to the feminine realm. Depictions of modern female friendships, my family, and women in singular moments of self-reflection and celebration seek to depict my core values of social connection, time spent outdoors, and finding beauty in the every-day. Whether capturing a glance, walking a dog, or daydreaming, each figures’ actions reveal a narrative, often absorbed in quiet moments of daily living. Recently I have focused on the ways in which figures occupy outdoor spaces, such as scenes from my block, the garden, or a car. Pattern and color, incorporated through clothing, accessories such as sunglasses, jewelry, and cell phones add texture and reference current cultural fashion and icons. My style tends to be bold and graphic, with formal elements employing light and reflections to create specific moods. I hope to unlock the extraordinary in everyday scenes.
I received Mass Cultural grants in 2010 and 2016, my painting ‘Leah’ was featured on the cover of New American Paintings in 2020, and my work is in the private collections of Andy Samberg, Emma Straub, and Fidelity Investments. Since 2011, I’ve sold archival prints with the online website 20x200. Through exposure on that platform, a design director at Kate Spade hired me to paint promotional imagery for their Saturday line from their launch in 2012 until they closed in 2015. My work has also been exhibited and sold in Jonathan Adler stores, and has been used as set imagery on The Mindy Project. I’ve taught at many institutions throughout New England including RISD, BU, Montserrat, Mass Art, UNH, and I was the drawing and painting teacher at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Upper School from 2014-2022. I received an MFA in painting from Boston University in 2007 and a BA from Brown University in 2003. I live in Cambridge, MA with my husband and two children. You can support my work through purchase of a painting, a print, or buying me a cup of tea! Follow me on Instagram.
Contact
Helena Wurzel
Studio 8
hello@helenawurzel.com
www.helenawurzel.com
