As a young child in communist Poland, I would spend hours pouring through the scrapbooks my mom would make from fashion magazines and photos from Old Hollywood films. Filled with color and life, these pages were magical windows that helped me escape to other realities. When my family and I moved to the US in the 1980’s, I didn’t speak English, and visual arts became a way that I could communicate and express myself.
During my teens and twenties, photography became my first love, and I honed my eye capturing fine art and documentary images. Though I chose not to pursue fashion photography, fashion became my obsession in every other way. Living in NYC and Toronto, I nurtured my artistic sensibilities; fashion once again opened magical portals, but this time, they were real, transporting me to cities across the world for work and travel.
For 15 years, I’ve worked in the fashion industry as a Producer, Stylist, Concept Designer, and Trend Forecaster, and these skills have all come together in my true calling as an Art Director. The on-set energy, being part of a creative team, and bringing visions to life are where my talents can fully thrive. My attention to even the finest details, openness to new ideas, collaborative spirit, and aesthetic intuition are what make me shine as a part of every project I’m a part of.
To learn more, or to work with me, send me an email at lenaparsell@gmail.com.