To view Helena's resume/CV, please click here.

True to her Brazilian heritage, Helena Cooper's work conjures deep, bold, earthy hues, sensual textures, and strong, rhythmic forms, in a fusion of gesture, texture and color to rhapsodic effect. Drawing upon mythical, archetypal dimensions of consciousness, the artist's inner landscape becomes mirrored on the canvas, reminding us of our own dreamworld and intuition, and of the realm of the primitive, instinctual consciousness that lies beneath the surface of the conscious mind.

Cooper's art is known for highlighting a profound connection with the elemental world of nature and with the mysterious depths of the unconscious, and her recent body of work is no exception. In her new series of photographs, Cooper explores the potential for water to nourish, heal and restore the mind, body and soul. At times appearing more like abstract paintings than photographs, the series emphasizes the play of light reflecting upon the water, as colors mix and intermingle and reveal new forms.

She notes: "The reflection on the water, the mystery and the sounds of water running feeds my soul and brings me peace; it allows me to access something primordial, and to achieve a sense of meaning, freedom, and belonging, of feeling home and that everything is how it is supposed to be."

The vibrant colors and complex textures which define her expressionistic style reflects the essence of the Brazilian soul, in a fusion of critical sophistication and primitive sensuality combined with an exuberance, refinement and spontaneity that is characteristic of the artist's personal style. Evocative of the manner in which joy and sadness, loss and hope, pain and beauty are intertwined, her work is a mirror of the sublime communion that nature has to offer.

"I have several of Helena's works adorning our walls including in the tranquility room of Rasa Spa; The swirling colors and sensual movements of the light reflecting off of the water makes her art the perfect complement to the healing atmosphere we strive to achieve."

-Rachel Hogancamp, Owner, Rasa Spa, Ithaca, NY

Cooper was born in Brazil, where she lived until the age of 25. She grew up in a family of artists, surrounded by sculptors and painters, designers, jewelers, and photographers from an early age. She studied painting at the Escola Brasil Dois Pontos, the prestigious art institute of Brazil which has launched many of the country's greatest contemporary artists, including Fajardo, Bavarelli, and Rezende. In 1982, Helena married and moved with her American husband to Ithaca, NY, where she raised two children and continues to work in her studio, finding unlimited inspiration in the bucolic beauty of the local landscape.