Natasha Lelenco, Anthropomorphic Botanical Portrait with Insect Motifs and Organic Forms, 2026, Acrylic Painting

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This painting forms part of Fetishes, an ongoing series by Natasha Lelenco in which portraiture becomes a site for examining … Read more This painting forms part of Fetishes, an ongoing series by Natasha Lelenco in which portraiture becomes a site for examining organic continuity and non-hierarchical forms of life. Originally created in 2022 and later revisited and reconstructed by the artist in 2026, the work reflects a sustained inquiry into how human identity dissolves when placed in direct contact with vegetal and animal presences. The figure emerges slowly from the composition, partially obscured by large blooming flowers that occupy the facial area. Nestled within this botanical growth, small snails appear as quiet protagonists. These snails do not function as decorative symbols but as agents of time, slowness and bodily proximity. Their presence introduces a rhythm opposed to immediacy, reinforcing the painting’s meditation on patience, fragility and coexistence. In Fetishes, snails recur as living forms that move without urgency, carrying their shelter with them, blurring distinctions between body, home and environment. Painted in acrylic on panel mounted on a stretcher, the surface combines soft chromatic transitions with translucent organic layers. The flowers, snails and human features interpenetrate, suggesting a shared biological field rather than separate species. Insects and snails coexist with the figure as equals, proposing an image of life based on interdependence and permeability rather than domination. By returning to this work in 2026, Lelenco reinforces the idea of painting as a living organism. The image is not fixed but allowed to mature, accumulate and transform, much like the slow trajectories traced by snails across a surface. The work can be presented individually or combined with other pieces from the same series, forming modular constellations that emphasize continuity, repetition and ecological intimacy. Medium: Acrylic on panel mounted on stretcher Dimensions: 60 × 60 × 4 cm Series: Fetishes Condition: Created in 2022, revisited and reconstructed by the artist in 2026 Installation: Ready to hang This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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