Milena Nalbanti

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~I Have Been Painting Ever Since I Could Pick Up A Brush~

Long before any formal training, painting was how I observed the world and processed experiences. It allowed stories to take shape where words failed.

~Art Has Always Gripped My Soul~

My experience in social sciences, dabbles in acting, and stint in fashion design only strengthened my lifelong passion for my first love: painting. These experiences have guided me to view the canvas from many different angles, allowing me to discover how a figure holds space and can convey the gravity of a moment.

~My Work Starts In The Imagination~

While I progress my style, I remain obsessed with structure and visual clarity—a sense of staging honed through years of performance. I do not paint from observation. I don’t follow a fixed narrative. Instead, I let images surface through instinct, allowing a scene to build its own internal logic.

~My History~

Splitting time between Bulgaria and Greece while growing up I was very fortunate to experience vastly differing cultures, living situations, and life experiences. Living where the past is etched into the architecture gave me an inherent understanding of visual weight and historical form.

~Progression~

Now based in the United States, I made the decision to study at The Art Students League of New York. Learning from world renowned artists has helped me unlock new tools that I can use as I open up and evolve my artistic style. Ten months into my studies I was a recipient of the 2025 Merit Scholarship.

~Beyond The Studio~

I have a fascination that ranges from ancient civilizations to futuristic theoretical science. I’m drawn to environments where time, culture, and ideas intersect. For the last three years I have been soaking in the vibrant energy of New York City. Seeing my modern experience through a historical lens allows me to return to my work with clarity and contextual depth as I continue on my artistic journey.

Awards & Scholarships

•  2025 - Merit Scholarship Recipient, The Art Students League of New York, New York, NY

International Art Fairs & Group Exhibitions

•  2023 - ArtBox.Project New York 2.0, Manhattan, New York, NY

•  2023 - Miami Art Week, Spectrum Miami Art Show, Miami, FL

•  2022 - Venice International Art Fair (16th Edition), Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy

•  2021 - ArtBox.Project Barcelona 1.0, Art Metropole Europe, Barcelona, Spain

•  2021 - ArtBox.Project World 1.0, World Wide Galleries , Zurich, Switzerland

•  2020 - ArtBox.Project Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

•  2018 - 8th Meet the Artist, Myro Gallery, Thessaloniki, Greece

Public Art & Site-Specific Presentations

•  2022 - Permanent Public Placement, Le 27 Gourmand, Paris, France

Curated installation of original artwork within a hospitality space in the 8th arrondissement.

•  2020 - Public Digital Showcase, Art of the Day, ArtBox.Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland

Featured artwork “Lady Catherine” selected for a curated public digital screening (December 24).

•  2016–2022 - Site-Specific Showcase of Original Works, Mango Resort, Chalkidiki, Greece

Six-year multi-site presentation of original works integrated into indoor and outdoor public environments.

Press & Publications

• 2024 - Featured Artist, Artistic Tribe NYC: Featured Artists & Guests (Volume 1 Book edition), Nom de Plume Publishing, New York, NY

• 2023 Featured Artist, "Inspirational Local Artists," Artistic Tribe (Newspaper Profile), New York, NY