Elena Rakochy is a visual artist living and working in Chicago. She is also a part time faculty member in the art departments at South Suburban Community College (South Holland, IL) and Knox College (Galesburg, IL). Her studio is located within the Lillstreet Art Center (http://www.lillstreet.com), a community of artists located on the north side of Chicago.

Artist's Statement

Making art allows me to explore how the different aspects of life affect people’s decision-making process, and more specifically my own choices. My work is primarily organic, inspired by nature and by the natural connections that we have with other people and our surroundings. What most interests me is how relationships that I have with other people, with my community and my environment, and with myself, influence how I make my decisions. How much control do we have over our options and how much is dictated by things beyond our control? How does the mind fit into it all? My sculptures are physical manifestations of the thought patterns that direct my decisions; abstractions of the paths that I follow. My sculptures interact both with the spaces they occupy and the spaces they create: just like people have to consider both their surroundings and the effect they have on what is around them.

I love to take the jumbled up thoughts in my head and translate them into sculptures.