Foreword
Elena Schaefer is an awarded visual artist who lives and works between Berlin, Saint Petersburg and London.
Elena was discovered at the age of 10 by her school teacher. The teacher noticed that her artwork was radically different from any other student she had ever seen, and that the execution and skill were not those of a child. The teacher convinced Elena that she had a rare talent and encouraged her to pursue a mission of creating art in a professional manner and to obtain a proper academic art education. By the age of 12, the school teacher took the initiative and signed Elena up for the best art academy in town.
Five years later, after studying every day from early morning to late at night, Elena graduated from both the art academy and a state high school with grade A, special honors, and a big stack of awards.
Biography
Elena grew up in a russian town, where she attended both regular school and an art academy full time.
As one of the best students in Russia, at the age of 15 she was offered to participate in a scholarship with a prize of fully funded one year in the USA.
Among 48 other gifted children, she won this scholarship and continued with her life in America. With 16 she was graduated from a hight school in Oklahoma with the highest GPA score. Upon return to Russia, she successfully finished both art academy, A grade with special honous and a state school, also with an excellent grade diploma. After taking a graduation state exam, Elena was one of the eighty students in the entire country to reach the highest possible score in advanced maths, being able to solve the most complex mathematical problems, developed for professors. This meant every university in the country would grant her a free education and a monthly student allowance. At the age of 17 she acepted a government funded scholarship in Samara State University to study Civil engineering, thanks to her outstanding talent in mathematics and science.
One year later Elena signed up with several modelling agencies in Paris, Berlin and London. Some period of time she combined full time engineering studies with her modelling work.
At the age of 19 she moved to London to proceed with her modelling career and fullfil her contract duties. Simultaneously she enrolled at Istituto Marangoni London to study graphic design and was graduated 3 years later.
For many years she lived and worked in London, pursuing both fine art and fashion careers. Elena speaks English, German, Russian, French, Italian and Chinese.
Right now, Elena is based in Germany and continues with her work in art and fashion scene.