Hello, I'm Milena Makani.

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​,​ Makani blends control and spontaneity in her painting practice through the interplay between intention​,​ organic process and manipulation. The unusual stone sheet surface allows 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​,​ isolation​,​ 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​,​ Bulgaria​,​ Egypt​,​ the United States and Canada.