Helga Stentzel


Hello everyone, I'm Helga Stentzel, a visual artist based in London who enjoys working with photography, sculpture, and murals.

 

Helga Stentzel - Make Your Mum An Artist (The Cloths Hanger)

I used to work as an art director in the commercial field. A few years ago, I made the decision to become a full-time artist. In just a short time, my works have been fortunate to be exhibited at a solo show in Seoul, the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and at art fairs in the United States and Canada, gaining the support and appreciation of audiences from around the world.

With my unique surreal visual style, I was honored in 2023 with the title of Hasselblad Heroine – a recognition that holds deep meaning for me.

My inspiration often comes from the beauty in everyday life. In photography, I enjoy turning ordinary scenes into whimsical visual adventures through the lens. In sculpture, I love using everyday elements to "sculpt" complex and meaningful stories.

I firmly believe that even ordinary things can shine with extraordinary brilliance! I hope my work inspires others to take a fresh look at the everyday and discover hidden surprises.

Photo Gallery

@ lumagida.com

Helga Stentzel – A Playful Soul

Clothes Line Animals

The creativity and playfulness of this series contrast with the delicate details of the fabrics and the scenery. Each character has its own unique personality, distinctive voice, and a story to tell.

“My art is about discovering magic in the ordinary, seeing beauty in imperfection, and reconnecting with our reality in a new way.”

This series includes some of Helga’s most well-known pieces. She is a visual artist born in Siberia and now based in London, known for her "domestic surrealism" style. She plays with optical illusions and arranges common household items into compositions that resemble faces, animals, or other whimsical characters.

Her famous “Laundry Line” series transforms clothes hanging on lines into charming animals. The “Funny Face Laundry Room” series centers around the concept of home — using the walls, windows, air conditioning units, and washing machines as foundational elements. These are combined with folded laundry or household objects in a creative blend of structure and color, making them appear like colorful, mischievous faces.

Each creation is guided by a preset personality of the character. Every detail — a glance, a smile, even a mole — brings that character vividly to life.