JENIA WEICHSEL (b. 1980, Tajikistan) is a contemporary figurative painter whose work explores the quiet intensity of human emotions and the immediacy of lived experience. Her paintings are celebrated for their atmospheric stillness, intimate depth, and theatrical composition, often capturing a single suspended moment that resonates beyond the frame. Raised in Moscow, Russia and having lived in New York City before establishing her studio in Palo Alto, California, Weichsel brings a disciplined, methodical approach shaped by a former academic career and engineering background.

Working primarily in oil on hand-prepared linen, she uses traditional materials such as rabbit-skin glue and gesso to create luminous, layered surfaces. Her figurative work draws on Renaissance techniques—subtle modulation of light, atmosphere, and softened form—while engaging a contemporary visual language that speaks to the emotional immediacy and psychological intensity of modern portraiture.

Since beginning her professional painting career in 2021, Weichsel has been recognized for her technical mastery, emotional nuance, and distinctive artistic presence, establishing herself as a compelling voice in contemporary figurative painting.