Bio
Elli Lestas, born in London. Studied Camberwell College of Art, MA Fine Art at Goldsmith's, lecturer of Textiles at the London College of Fashion. Lives and works in Cyprus and London. Relevant exhibitions 2018  ART.EARTH  3person show at Dartington Hall, Devon ,  Miniscule Venice 2020, 'Salon Des Estrangers"Venice 2024, 2020, Venice Bienalle. Solo Exhibitions at the Blue Iris Gallery 2014,2015,2023  Paphos, Cyprus,  Member of Drawing Box International Collective 2025 'Inside Out' Leitrim Sculpure Centre, Manorehamilton, IRELAND. 2025 DABAS NOTVERŠANA Capturing Nature, Latvia , 2025 Metaflore 2 person show of drawings and photographs ( with photographer André Maleval )      

Artist statement
All areas of the work embrace nature as the key subject mainly drawings. Recent work is mainly  casts  a keen observation on the  ageing process, celebrating decay and alchemy that changes the colour, form and energy of living beings. The drawings are not just an accurate rendering of the plants  but also    intuitive  works of art. This is achieved  by firstly engaging   with  the  laws of chance  as a means to harness the spirit- energy that  radiants from the dried plants, insects or found  natural matter.  The studio is brimming with large and small scale natural materials ,  which I connect to, in some way, to feel and transfer their essence  or spirit nature on to the paper. 
My art works are  a quiet collaboration with nature  but the main purpose is intuitive  image making,    to turn  the physical into a  metaphysical interpretation through drawing and image making.