YELENA BRYKSENKOVA

I opened my shop in late 2009, when I was a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art, as a way of offering reproductions of my work to those who expressed an interest in it. The shop took off unexpectedly when my work was featured on design*sponge in the spring of 2010, right after I graduated with a BFA in illustration. I used the printer on campus in those days, but since then have invested in my own, professional grade EPSON printers and have been filling orders from my desk at home.

I believe in making my work accessible to everyone, which is why I offer affordable, high quality prints of my illustration and personal work. Over the years I've streamlined my process of printing, packaging and shipping to make sure that prints reach my customers quickly, safely and packaged like presents - with bright colored tissue paper, washi tape and a hand-written note - which I think people really appreciate, if the positive feedback is any indication!

I enjoy thinking of my work traveling across the United States, to settle in homes and offices of very different people, but to think of all the orders I've received from places all over the WORLD is really an exhilarating feeling. To think I could connect with someone across the globe, beyond the limitations of verbal language, is what really makes my work feel meaningful, especially in times of doubt, and I try to think of it as my small contribution to peace on earth.