Elena is an artist based in Chattanooga, TN USA.
Elena always wanted to be an artist. As a child in Ukraine, she received a classical
art education which she used for over a decade as an architect. It was an applied form of her desire to create art.
After more than a decade of architectural practice, Elena moved away from architecture
into teaching art to children and painting when she could, and finally she was
able to focus all her time being an artist and learning. She tries to use every opportunity to learn
anything new – new tools, mediums, techniques – anything new at all.
She moved to America in 2013 and turned her full attention to painting.
Her current focus is portraiture. She seeks a connection
with the model that she can translate to the surface.
“I really like to explore the personalities of my models through building the structure of a portrait
with oil paint and paintbrush.”
Elena is an awarded member of the Portrait Society of America and Oil Painters of America.
She has Signature Member Status of the Portrait Society of America.
Solo Exhibitions:
Upcoming
2025 Abend Gallery, Denver Co
2024 Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga TN
2023 Jostens Gallery of Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, Clarksville TN
2022 John C. Williams Gallery of Art School of Visual Art and Design, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN
2016 Elena Burykina | Linoleum Block Prints Show, Southside Studio, Chattanooga, TN
Group Exhibitions:
2026 New Salem Art Museum International Painting Competition
2026 35th National Exhibition of Oil Painters of America.
2025 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin
2025 34d National Exhibition of Oil Painters of America.
2025 The Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Annual Exhibition. London. UK
2024 The Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Annual Exhibition. London. UK
2024 33d National Exhibition of Oil Painters of America.
2024 Contemporary Figuration, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2024 33rd Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver CO
2023 Holiday Portfolio Show and Sale, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN
2023 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin
2022 32nd Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2022 Holiday Portfolio Show and Sale, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN
2022 Exhibitour, D Anthony Gallery, Wausau, Wisconsin
2021 31st Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2021 Holiday Portfolio Show and Sale, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN
2021 5”/5” Project IX, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2021 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin
2021 Women Painting, All Over the World, MEAM, European Museum of
Modern Art, Spain, Barcelona
2021 Contemporary Figuration, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2020 30th Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2020 Painting the Figure Now III, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin
2019 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin
2019 29th Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
2018 “Women Painting Women”, The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, Clarksville, TN
2018 Annual Members Show, AVA, Chattanooga, TN
2018 Black History : “The Modern Day Paris Exposition”, AVA, Chattanooga, TN
2017 Fresh Emerging Artists, AVA ( Association for Visual Arts ), Chattanooga, TN
2017 Emerging artist in 4 Bridges Art Festival, Chattanooga, TN
Awards and Publications:
2026 International Portrait Competition of the Portrait Society of America, Finalist, Fourth Place
2026 International Artist Magazine, The Art of the Portrait, Master Showcase, (April/May Issue 2026)
2025 Portrait Society of America annual Members only competition, Fourth Place in the Outside the Box Category
2025 18th International ARC Salon Competition, Finalist
2024 17th International ARC Salon Competition, Finalist
2023 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin, Best of the Show.
2023 Oil Painters of America. Second Place Award in Summer Member Showcase
2023 Portrait Society of America, International Portrait Competition, Certificate of Excellence.
2022 16th International ARC Salon Competition, Finalist
2022 Exhibitour – the national juried exhibition. Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin, Honorable mention
2022 Signature Status Recipient of the Portrait Society of America
2022 Portrait Society of America, International Portrait Competition, Select 50.
2022 Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, Today's Masters, "Treasuring Our Green Zones" article, "Winter Flowers" is the included painting in the group showcase. (May/June Issue 2022)
2021 Portrait Society of America 17th annual Members only competition, Eighth Place in the Outside the Box Category
2021 International Artist Magazine, The Art of the Portrait,
Master Showcase, (June/July Issue 2021)
2020 Portrait Society of America 16th annual Members only competition, Fourth Place in the Outside the Box Category.
2019 Portrait Society of America 15th annual Members only competition, Finalist in the Commissioned Portrait Category
2019 International Biennial Portrait Competition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin, Honorable Mention
2019 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, Certificate of Excellence
2018 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, Select 50
Instruction:
Townsend Atelier 3days workshop (March 6-8, 2026)
Capturing Essence & Character: Portrait Painting with Elena Burykina – Townsend Atelier
The Portrait Society of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA (3+ hours demonstration) (2022)
School of Visual Art and Design, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN
( one day workshop as an invited artist ) (2021)
An Oil Portrait Demo, (online, 4+ hour of content)
the affiliate link