Natasha Lelenco, Currency #254, 2025, Mixed Media on Wood

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Currency #254 is a thought-provoking piece from Natasha Lelenco’s Currencies series, featuring a finely detailed male profile painted in acrylic … Read more Currency #254 is a thought-provoking piece from Natasha Lelenco’s Currencies series, featuring a finely detailed male profile painted in acrylic on a circular wooden panel. The subject, portrayed in rich earthy tones, is set against a bold turquoise background, with expressive brushwork adding depth and texture to his features. Encircling the portrait is a Spanish inscription: “He llegado aquí de pequeño. Había fallecido mi padre. Teníamos problemas en casa.” which translates to “I came here as a child. My father had passed away. We had problems at home.” The deeply personal statement reflects on migration, family loss, and the challenges of starting over, giving the artwork an intimate yet universal resonance. The contrast between the warm figure and the cool-toned background enhances the tension between the personal and the anonymous, key themes in Lelenco’s conceptual work. As part of the Currencies series, this piece challenges traditional representations of power and value found in national coinage, replacing them with deeply human stories. By featuring anonymous faces and phrases that speak to themes of displacement, belonging, and struggle, Lelenco transforms currency into a narrative object that reflects real human experiences. Technical Details: Series: Currencies Medium: Acrylic and mixed media on treated pine wood Dimensions: 26 cm diameter, 2 cm thickness (10.24 x 0.79 inches) Inscription: Spanish text with English translation Condition: New, direct from the artist’s studio Presentation: Ready to hang About the Series: The Currencies series reinterprets the concept of coins, shifting focus from national symbols to personal histories. These pieces explore the arbitrary nature of value, both economic and human, and offer collectors the opportunity to engage with thought-provoking narratives on migration and identity. Each work can function as a standalone piece or as part of a larger installation. About the Artist: Natasha Lelenco is a Moldovan-born artist whose work has been exhibited internationally. Her practice merges figurative realism with conceptual inquiry, focusing on themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and the meaning of value in contemporary society. Signed by Maker See less