Lena Baker

Country where you live:

United States

City where you live:

Alexandria

Website:

https://lenabaker.art/

Instagram:

http://www.instagram.com/lenabakerfineart

Statement :

I create art that draws viewers into the vast landscapes of Mars, blending Impressionism with a touch of abstraction. Using high-resolution images from NASA as reference, I bring these alien terrains to life on canvas, incorporating real Martian dust to connect each piece directly to the planet. The dust adds texture and a tangible link to Mars, transforming my paintings into something both otherworldly and grounded in reality.

My inspiration comes from the mystery and discovery associated with space exploration. There’s something powerful about seeing something so unfamiliar up close—surfaces shaped by forces and timescales beyond our own. My goal is to capture the beauty of these Martian landscapes in a way that feels abstract from afar but reveals intricate, recognizable details up close. I want people to feel a sense of awe, curiosity, and perhaps even a bit of familiarity, as if they’ve glimpsed a piece of another world.

This work is for those who find wonder in the unknown and are drawn to the idea of landscapes that push the boundaries of what we know. I hope my art brings a little bit of Mars into people’s lives, inviting them to experience the alien as something tangible, intriguing, and accessible.

Quote:

Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today. - Abraham Lincoln

Fissure near Cerberus Fossae

Oil and Martian dust on canvas 2024 24 by 30 inches This painting captures the linear volcanic vent along the Cerberus Fossae fissures on Mars, inspired by HiRISE imagery and NASA’s geological findings. The vibrant blues contrast against the muted Martian surface, symbolizing the interplay between the planet’s volcanic and tectonic forces. Textures and forms evoke the raw power of lava flows shaped by deep-seated dike systems, while subtle linear patterns hint at the tectonic movements that guided their emergence. By highlighting the connection between volcanic activity and water flow, this piece reflects Mars’ dynamic geological history, blending abstract beauty with scientific authenticity. The layered brushstrokes and vibrant palette invite viewers to ponder the mysteries of alien landscapes and the forces that shaped them.

Work Credit:

Photo reference courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona. Martian dust sourced at meteorites-for-sale.com, certified by the Meteoritical Society, London

Colorful Mawrth Vallis

Oil and Martian Dust on Canvas 2024 24 by 48 inches At first glance, the landscape appears almost abstract—an interplay of unexpected colors and textures that defy typical expectations of Mars. Yet within this abstraction lies a scientific story, as each hue and form represents real mineral deposits and geological features meticulously mapped from afar. This painting invites viewers to look beyond the abstract and glimpse the scientific depth beneath, merging art with the mysteries of planetary exploration. This painting interprets Mawrth Vallis on Mars, inspired by NASA’s enhanced imaging techniques. The colors—deep blacks for basaltic sands, and vivid greens, yellows, and blues for various hydrated minerals—come directly from scientific photos, designed to reveal details beyond what the human eye would naturally see. By translating this vivid, otherworldly palette into paint, I invite viewers to explore Mars as scientists have seen it, with each color revealing a story about the planet’s hidden geology and ancient past. As with all my Mars-inspired works, this painting incorporates authentic Martian particles, in the form of certified Martian dust sourced from meteorites. These fragments from the Red Planet add a tangible connection to Mars, grounding the piece in the very materials that shaped its ancient landscape.

Work Credit:

Photo reference courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona. Martian dust sourced at meteorites-for-sale.com, certified by the Meteoritical Society, London

Polygonal Ridges in Gordii Dorsum Region

Oil and Martian dust on canvas 2024 18 by 24 inches Drawing from NASA’s imagery of the Gordii Dorsum region on Mars, this painting captures the striking polygonal ridges of the Martian landscape, rendered in an impressionistic style. The ridges, which may have once been dunes hardened by an unknown process, create a geometric pattern across the terrain. The interplay of light, texture, and color evokes the mystery of the forces that shaped this alien landscape, possibly influenced by groundwater. Through impressionistic brushstrokes, this piece invites the viewer to experience the rugged beauty of Mars in a way that feels both immediate and dreamlike.

Work Credit:

Photo reference courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona. Martian dust sourced at meteorites-for-sale.com, certified by the Meteoritical Society, London

Ice-filled Crater

Oil and Martian Dust on Canvas 2024 16 by 40 inches The second piece in the Martian Treks series offers a striking interpretation of Mars’ cratered landscape, shaped by centuries of asteroid impacts. Using imagery documented by NASA’s Reconnaissance orbiter, this painting captures one of these craters encircled by icy terrain, evoking a sense of both destruction and preservation—a poignant wound on Mars’ surface. The artist’s unique approach incorporates real Martian dust, delicately applied to the crater’s center, blending seamlessly with the oils. This tactile addition establishes a profound, tangible connection to the Red Planet, elevating the visual experience into one that transcends the canvas.

Work Credit:

Photo reference courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona. Martian dust sourced at meteorites-for-sale.com, certified by the Meteoritical Society, London

The Dance of Dust on Mars

Oil and Martian dust on canvas 2024 18 by 24 inches This painting draws inspiration from the Martian landscape of Acheron Fossae, where NASA has observed mysterious dark streaks known as “slope streaks.” These natural formations are caused by dust avalanches cascading down Martian slopes, leaving behind striking, dark trails across the terrain. Through expressive brushwork and a nuanced color palette, this piece captures the powerful, fleeting moment of movement across Mars’s surface. The soft beige tones represent the dust-laden plains, while bold, sweeping strokes convey the dynamic force of dust cascading down steep slopes. Textural accents provide a tactile sense of the Martian environment, evoking both the roughness of rock formations and the ethereal beauty of the planet’s surface. This artwork invites viewers to see Mars not as a static red dot in the sky but as a world alive with natural processes and raw beauty.

Bio:

Lena Baker, born in 1986 in the Soviet Union, is a contemporary artist based in Alexandria, Virginia. She works primarily in oil painting on canvas, adding certified Martian dust to specific areas of her finished pieces while the paint is still wet. Known for her impressionistic approach, Baker brings Martian landscapes to life through a combination of textured brushwork and cosmic elements.

Focusing on the unique surfaces of Mars, Baker’s work interprets the planet’s geological features with expressive detail, blending scientific accuracy with artistic imagination. Her paintings are characterized by a thoughtful layering of oil and Martian dust, which creates a textured depth that draws viewers into the mysterious and rugged beauty of Mars. Among her most significant projects is the Martian Treks series, an ongoing exploration of Mars’s landscapes, inspired by NASA’s images and findings.

Currently immersed in creating new works for Martian Treks, Baker aims to deepen her artistic portrayal of the Red Planet’s varied terrain, making her work a unique bridge between art and planetary science. Through this series, she invites viewers to engage with Mars on an imaginative level, offering a new perspective that merges aesthetic beauty with an appreciation for the mysteries of space exploration.