Story & Lesson Highlights with Elena Roznovan

We recently had the chance to connect with Elena Roznovan and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Elena, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of raising my son in a way that breaks generational cycles of abandonment and abuse. It is an ongoing challenge to tend to my own traumatized nervous system while simultaneously modeling regulation, presence, and grounded behavior for him. I am learning to set boundaries as I teach him how to have boundaries of his own. My hope is that he will grow up with a healthier relationship to himself, rooted in a nervous system that operates from a baseline of safety, trust, and love.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a multidisciplinary artist working across sculpture, video, and installation. My practice examines the contradictions of motherhood through a conceptual and feminist framework, often juxtaposing intimacy and power, labor and resilience.

I am currently finalizing a body of work centered on my postpartum experience, challenging the narrow and stereotypical roles new mothers are often expected to inhabit. Portions of this work were curated by Virginia Arce into the exhibition Swing Shift and are currently on view at the Irvine Fine Arts Center through January 17, 2026.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My mother really wanted me to be a piano player or a singer. She started taking me to music lessons when I was six years old. I never liked instruments or singing for that matter. I was pretty bad at it too. Then around eleven years old I completed five years of piano and received a certificate. I handed that certificate to her with the words “here is your certificate, now put me in a drawing class.” Looking back, I think of that as a powerful moment because I defied my mother, which was very difficult for me. To add to that, I had enough intuitive insight at such a young age to know what I was truly passionate about and had the courage to embrace that authentic voice within.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
From a young age, I was really hard on myself. That internal critic often felt loud enough to shut down my desire to make art altogether. I still struggle with that voice, but it has less power over me now than it once did. With time, I’ve learned to recognize it for what it is and not let it run the show. If I could give my younger self any advice, it would be to be more patient and kinder to herself. Real growth—and a clear artistic vision—doesn’t happen overnight; it unfolds slowly, through time, persistence, and lived experience.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to being the best artist I can be—not so much for professional gain or external validation, but because I genuinely believe in the power of art to shift culture. Art has the ability to ask difficult questions, open up conversations that might otherwise stay buried, and make space for new ways of seeing and being. For me, making work isn’t just about building a career; it’s about contributing to a larger cultural dialogue and pushing against the norms that quietly shape how we live, care, and relate to one another.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
Making my cat famous on instagram.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eroznovan

Image Credits
Yubo Dong