Biography

Milena Makani, born in 1984 in Sofia, Bulgaria, is a German contemporary painter based in London, UK. Marked by gestural and lyrical abstraction, Makani’s deeply psychological abstract paintings depict colourful inner landscapes. The characteristic layered textures, fluid forms, gradients and contrasts of her work have a distinctive visual language, inviting viewers into a space where feeling and exploration take precedence over form.

Utilizing the unique attributes of various types of acrylics, watercolours and inks and their interactive properties on a mineral stone sheet paper, Makani blends control and spontaneity in her painting practice through the interplay between intention, organic process and manipulation. The unusual stone sheet surface allows for very wet work that enables a fluid application and layering of mediums and also offers a remarkable transformation of the works when lit from the front versus the back.

Makani lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a chronic, incurable condition and the source of constant pain and various hidden disabilities. In a therapeutic, transformative process, her works address the visceral, cerebral and spiritual to channel mindfulness, gratitude and energy amid the complexities of the human condition. Guided by an intuitive connection to her inner world and rooted in curiosity and emotional interpretation of her lived experience, Makani investigates themes such as resilience, serenity, energy, joy, stoicism and fragility.

The German artist has exhibited her work in the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and Iceland and her paintings are featured internationally in private collections across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Egypt, the United States and Canada.