Rising Stars: Meet Alena Saveleva of Arts District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alena Saveleva.

Hi Alena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in 2019 as a spatial designer and visualizer in Beijing. During my undergraduate studies in architecture, I was fortunate to be admitted to one of the best and most experimental studios, where I developed the habit of fighting for what I believe in — even if it’s something ephemeral and vulnerable. I was always focused on nurturing visual parables. My interest in organic essences and ecologies was already present in my earliest philosophical and architectural games.

However, pandemic Beijing remained a tempering and challenging stop.
I was caught in the strange and unstable constraints of rigid policy and the frightening image of a new disease. Seeing through the lens of an unwelcome outsider, I found myself struck by the scale of the local ecological drama — yet I longed to keep designing beautiful spaces in the Chinese mountains and rice fields.

The academic period followed. I completed two Master’s degrees in Environmental Studies and Entertainment Design in Los Angeles. It was a defiant decision, both financially and admissions-wise, but it led to a mind-reshaping break that helped refine my art statement.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My main challenge has always been rooted in pursuing my core vice: a hunger for prestige that I objectively could not afford. Maintaining high ambitions without inherited wealth or connections often required overwork and quiet endurance. At the same time, I never wanted to compromise my belief in beauty. Looking back, I’ve always followed aesthetics as a principle, beyond the constraints of reality and my modest origins.
A long period of my youth was spent in living conditions I would probably be unable to bear at my current age. These memories bring a painful sorrow for the younger version of myself, but I do not regret the choices I made.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist and filmmaker, I focus on visual and non-linear storytelling that unfolds around non-human myths and essences. My work advocates for the decentralization of the human perspective, pursuing the reenchantment of nature and the discovery of its hidden mysteries — the ones we have lost.
Cycles and rebirth are pivotal themes in these narratives, offering a soothing acknowledgment of death as a part of the greater whole.
My passion for film fuels a sense of perfectionism in both client work and personal video art. I enjoy maintaining connections with LA-based creators and collaborating on film and video content.

How do you define success?
I acknowledge I have high standards for success, which I do not apply to others universally. My constant undersatisfaction provokes a ceaseless competition with myself. It might sound unhealthy, but it is my comfort zone. This approach allows me to perform at my highest level at any given moment, without burning out.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moineau_____/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyona.savelyeva.94
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alena-saveleva-ba1424259/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Alena_Saveleva