Through textiles and painting, I explore the emotional landscape of personal experience and change. Color, texture, and scale are vital to my practice as these are the tools I use to evoke feelings of youth, fragility, and nostalgia. My work leans into the delicacy of memory, exploring how lived moments, both ordinary and transformative, shape who we are.
I often work with upcycled and secondhand materials—fabrics, paints, and found objects—as a way to honor the histories embedded in everyday things. This also brings a conscious approach that deepens my engagement with themes of memory and transformation, allowing the materials themselves to carry traces of time and use.
At the heart of my process is the idea of association: how items accumulate meaning over time and contribute to the construction of identity. By bridging together the tactile and the visual, I aim to create works that invite reflection, encouraging viewers to reconnect with their pasts and explore the emotional impact of nostalgia and personal history.
Artist Statement:
As both an artist and curator, I approach exhibitions with a dual sensitivity. One that prioritizes authentic representation of artists while creating meaningful, educational experiences for viewers. My curatorial practice is rooted in the belief that context shapes understanding, and seeing exhibition design as a powerful tool for storytelling, dialogue, and community-building.
I aim to foster inclusive, intentional spaces where emerging and underrepresented artists feel seen and supported. Working at the intersection of art and community, I am committed to using exhibition design and curatorial strategy to amplify diverse voices and spark meaningful engagement. For me, curating is not just about placing works in a gallery, but about shaping experiences that resonate, connect, and inspire.
Curatorial Statement:
Ellen Zentera is a recent graduate of Adrian College, where she earned a BFA in Studio Art, a minor in Art History, and a certificate in Graphic Design. She is an emerging curator and practicing artist whose work and leadership bridge creative production and exhibition design. Her curatorial experience includes roles at the Hickman Gallery at Adrian College and the Women’s Commission Gallery at Defiance College, where she led the development of major exhibitions, including Carlos Tobar: Visual Narratives and Defiance College’s 175th Anniversary exhibition.
Ellen’s artwork has been featured in multiple exhibitions, including Think Small at Lawrence Street Gallery—where she received Honorable Mention—and the International Seasons: Summer virtual exhibition. Dedicated to fostering artistic community, she has served as President of the Adrian College Art & Design Club, an Artalicious Board Member, and is actively involved with the Adrian Center for the Arts. Ellen is currently pursuing curatorial and gallery positions across the Midwest while continuing to develop her studio practice and commitment to inclusive, community-driven arts space.
Biography: