Elena Helfrecht (*1992) is a visual artist based in Bavaria. Her practice revolves around the inner space and the phenomena of consciousness, emerging from an autobiographical context and opening up to the surreal and fantastic. Interweaving experience and imagination, she creates inextricable narratives with multiple layers of meaning, characterised by a visceral iconography. Within her work, photography serves as a direct connection between the internal and the external realm. Through this process, she relates individual experiences to a collective history, turning personal involvement into a shared understanding. She is influenced by the folklore and landscapes of her home, and her love for Art History and Psychology.
Elena’s work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions internationally, at institutions and festivals such as South London Gallery (UK), Galleria Civica Cavour (IT), The Benaki Museum (GR), Villa Kebbel (DE), Photo Vogue Festival (IT), Encontros da Imagem (PT), FORMAT Festival Derby (UK), and Palácio das Artes (BR).
She is a recipient of the BJP International Photo Award, as well as the Sony World Photo Award, the Camera Work Award and the AOP Student Award. Among others, she was selected as one of the Bloomberg New Contemporaries and nominated for the FOAM Paul Huf Award. Recently, she has been selected as one of the Futures Photography Talents by VOID.
Her images have been featured in numerous publications, such as The New Yorker, ZEIT, Financial Times Weekend, The Guardian, and British Journal of Photography.
She has given lectures and talks at institutions such as the London College of Communication, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and the University of Europe. Elena’s work is held in private and public collections.
Education
2017–19 · Royal College of Art, London · M.A. Photography (distinction)
2017–19 · Humboldt-Universität, Berlin · Master Programme Art & Image History
2011–15 · Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen · B.A. Art History & Book Science
Solo & Duo Exhibitions
2025
Plexus · Galerie Jiřího Jílka, Šumperk, CZ (with Eugen Ruppert, my great-grandfather)
Making a Home · EMOP / Galerie Alles Mögliche, Berlin, DE
2024
Plexus · Villa Kebbel, Schwandorf, DE
2023
Předzvěst · Galerie Jiřího Jílka, Šumperk, CZ (with Teri Varhol)
Unternächte · Kleinste Galerie, Regensburg, DE
2022
Plexus · Bürgerforum, Wunsiedel, DE
2020
Plexus · Galleria Civica Cavour, Photo Open Up, Padua, IT
Plexus · Palazzo Rasponi 2, Ravenna, IT
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
Gaze Magazine N°11, Launch & Show · Galerie Au Roi, Paris, FR (upcoming, 25th Nov)
Good morning, I’m off to bed! · Ka Space for Visual Culture, Ankara, TR
2024
Sie sind da! · Villa Kebbel, Schwandorf, DE
In the Woods, at the Dead of Night · Blue Raven Gallery, Maine, US
Night of the Year · La Croisière, Les Rencontres d'Arles, FR
Palm* Photo Prize · 1014 Gallery, London, UK & Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam, NL
Sein Name ist Pferd · Museumsgalerie Rosshaupten, DE
LensCulture New Discoveries · Caelum Gallery, New York, US
2023
As Above, So Below · Hypha Studios, London, UK
Zeitstreifen · Villa Kebbel, Schwandorf, DE
Images Gibellina · Fondazione Orestiadi, Gibellina, IT
In anderem Licht · Stadtmuseum Hofheim am Taunus, DE
Der Greif: Past & Present · Pinakothek der Moderne & ZIRKA, Munich, DE
Matrixial Spaces · Luisa Catucci Gallery, Berlin, DE (Curation)
The Chills · Oigall Projects, Melbourne, AU
Ferdinand · Kulturverein Hotel Kovèl, Oberammergau, DE
2022
In neuem Licht · Villa Kebbel, Schwandorf, DE
BJP IPA Singles Show · Seen Fifteen Gallery, London, UK
Schichtung des Realen · Kunsthaus Sans Titre, Potsdam, DE
Helsinki Photo Festival · The National Museum of Finland, Helsinki, FI
Athens Photo Festival · Benaki Museum, Athens, GR
Mythologien · Cathy Project Space, Furth im Wald, DE
FACT FICTION FANTASY · Peckham 24, Copeland Gallery, London, UK
Collected Tales · Antics Publications, Bungee Space, New York, US
2021
Reframing History · Photo Vogue Festival, BASE Milano, Milan, IT
Photoville · Old Fulton Street and Prospect Street, New York, US
Emergentes · Encontros Da Imagem, Mosteiro de Tibães, Braga, PT
International Photography Festival · Singelpark, Leiden, NL
Photopia · Hidden Galleries, Hamburg, DE
Keep Your Eyes Peeled VII · AFF Galerie, Berlin, DE
Festival Internacional de Fotografia · Palácio das Artes, Belo Horizonte, BR
Togetherness · Portraits Hellerau, Technische Sammlungen, Dresden, DE
In Search of Identity · Künstlerhaus, f2 Fotofestival, Dortmund, DE
FORMAT International Photography Festival · Derby, UK
2020
False Memory · Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Rugby, UK
Hurry Up Please It’s Time · Seen Fifteen Gallery, London, UK
Sony World Photography Awards · Sony Imaging Gallery, Tokyo, JP
With Monochrome Eyes · Borough Road Gallery, London, UK
Bloomberg New Contemporaries · South London Gallery, London, UK
2019
Bloomberg New Contemporaries · Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds, UK
New Talents · The Photographic Exploration Project, Tête Space, Berlin, DE
Statement of Being · Deptford Does Art, London, UK
RCA Show · Royal College of Art, London, UK
In Repeat · Ginnel Foto Fest, Frameworkshop & Gallery, Ipswich, UK
Hot Sheet · Downstairs at The Department Store, London, UK
Alarum · Ardesia Projects, Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, DE
Intro:spective · Revolv Collective, Seen Fifteen Gallery, London, UK
Envisioning Other Worlds · Bow Arts, London, UK
2018
RCA Secret · Royal College of Art, London, UK
Family of No Man · Cosmos Books, Arles, FR
One Year Revolv · Revolv Collective, Safe House 1, London, UK
2017
Trash cans for hearts and people have no soul · Fotofestiwal, Łódź, PL
La peau de l'ours · Galerie Marie Demange, Brussels, BE
Awards & Grants
2025
Henrik teNeues Photography Award · Finalist
2024
Arles Book Awards · Shortlist
Fotobus Library Award · Shortlist
2023
Futures Photography Talent · Selected by VOID
Lensculture Critics’ Choice Award
2022
Stiftung Kunstfonds Work Grant
2021
British Journal of Photography International Photo Award · Single Image
Stipend of the State of Bavaria
Latgalian Culture Annual Awards · for Vysta smierts with Marija Dzeisla
Lensculture Black & White Awards · Jurors’ Pick
Portraits Hellerau Photography Award · Finalist
2020
British Journal of Photography International Photo Award · Series, joint runner-up
Sony World Photography Awards · Professional Still Life, 2nd Place
FOAM Paul Huf Award · Nominee
Camera Work Award
HSBC Prix pour la Photographie · Finalist
a-n Time Space Money Bursary
The Aftermath Project Grant · Finalist
2019
Le Bal Award for Young Creation · Finalist and Jury Favourite
Bloomberg New Contemporaries
Travers Smith CSR Art Programme
Ginnel Foto Award
The Association of Photographers Student Award
Selected Lectures & Talks
2024
Academy of Art and Documentary Photography · St. Petersburg, RU
Nearest Truth Podcast · Ep. 394
2023
Bildband · Artist Talk with Maria Sturm, Berlin, DE
Ewigkeitstage · Kulturmontag, Regensburg, DE
Nearest Truth Photobook Program · Berlin/Athens, DE/GR
2022
Academy of Art and Documentary Photography · St. Petersburg, RU
London College of Communication · MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography, UK
2021
Deutsche Fotografische Akademie · Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim, DE
University of Europe · BA Photography, Berlin/Hamburg, DE
Arts University Bournemouth · BA Photography, UK
2020
Deutsche Fotografische Akademie · with Boris Eldagsen, DE
University of Brighton · MA Photography, UK
Bauhaus-Universität · BA Photographic Storytelling, Weimar, DE
Brighton Photo Fringe · First Monday, UK
With Monochrome Eyes · Borough Road Gallery, London, UK
2019
London College of Communication · MA Photography Symposium, UK
Corpus Christi College · Photography Module, Oxford, UK
Works in Collections
District of Upper Palatinate · Permanent Collection, Villa Kebbel, Schwandorf, DE
Fondazione Orestiadi · Permanent Collection, Gibellina, IT
Palazzo Rasponi 2 · Permanent Collection, Municipality of Ravenna, IT
The Museum of Modern Art · Special Collections Library, New York, US
Vogue Italia Collection · Permanent Book Collection, Milan, IT
Private Collections · Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, UK, US, Japan, Thailand
Memberships
Deutsche Fotografische Akademie
VG Bildkunst
VG Wort
Monographs & Anthologies
Der König in Gelb. Edited by Levin Handschuh. Deutsche Lovecraft Gesellschaft, 2024, DE
Plexus. Void, 2023, GR (Monograph)
Augury. Antics Publications, 2022, US/CO (Monograph with Teri Varhol)
Vysta smierts. Marija Dzeisla. Valodu māja, 2022, LV
Animals: Photographs that make you think. Henry Carroll. Abrams Books, 2021, UK
The Journal of Grievances IV: Collected Tales. Antics Publications, 2021, US/CO
The Journal of Grievances II. Antics Publications, 2020, US/CO
On Death. Edited by Kris Graves. Kris Graves Projects, 2019, US
Homeland. Edited by Revolv Collective, 2019, UK
THE OPÉRA VI & VII. Edited by Matthias Straub. Kerber Verlag, 2019, DE
Omens. Self-published, 2018, UK (Monograph)
Selected Print Features
Gaze Magazine. Issue 11, 2025, FR
Die ZEIT. Issue 22, 2025, DE
Philosophie Magazin. Kafka Special Issue 29, 2024, DE
Granta. Issue 165, 2024, UK
Schwarzweiss Magazin. Issue 153, 2024, DE
Hot Potato News. Issue 4, 2024, UK
Financial Times Weekend. March 2022, UK
Der Freitag. 18th November 2022, DE
ZEIT Magazin. Issue 53, 2022, DE
Grandmama’s Print. Issue 2, 2022, RU
Schwarzweiss Magazin. Issue 142, 2021, DE
The British Journal of Photography. Issue 7903, 2021, UK
Source Magazine. Issue 104, 2021, UK
Directions: The Magazine by Design Hotels. Issue 17, 2021, DE
GUP Magazine. Issue 65, 2020, NL
Gaze Magazine. Issue 1, 2020, FR
The British Journal of Photography. Issue 7889, 2019, UK
HANT – Magazin für Fotografie. Issue 12, 2019, DE
Selected Online Features
The Guardian · Plexus
Collector Daily · Plexus
Creative Review · Plexus
Perlentaucher · Plexus
Contemporary Lynx · Plexus
Leica Fotografie International · Plexus
Phroom · Plexus
Fisheye · Ten Questions
Tique · Six Questions
The New Yorker · Anatoly by Oleh Sentsov
Lensculture · Unternächte (Interview)
Fisheye · Unternächte (Interview)
ZEIT online · Unternächte
Financial Times · Lights Out
Lenscratch · Plexus (Interview)
Kwerfeldein · Augury
GUP Magazine · Augury (Interview)
Paper Journal · Augury (Interview)
Port Magazine · Augury (Interview)
The British Journal of Photography · Plexus
Vogue Italia · A Reframed Library
PHMuseum · Healing Trauma
Bird in Flight Magazine · Plexus
SOLA Journal (Interview)
STIR World · Plexus (Interview)
The British Journal of Photography · On Vulnerability
Der Greif · Artist Feature + Artist Blog
Kwerfeldein · Plexus
The British Journal of Photography · Class of 2019
Vogue Italia · RCA Graduates
Archivo Platform · Plexus (Interview)
Aint–Bad · Plexus (Interview)