About the artist

Elena san pietrini artist at her studio with easels

Hi there!

I am Elena Pietrini Sánchez, born in Mexico City, currently living with my family and working in The Netherlands. And yes, I speak Spanish, fluent English and a little bit of Dutch.

My journey into art began since I can remember, inspired by my grandfather Jorge Sánchez Hernández (1926-2016), a renown Mexican painter.

I received a Bachelor of History of Art from Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico, and later studied abroad a Master program in Fine Arts from Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, in Utrecht. Since basic school years I studied painting on the side of my studies, taking lessons from family members and other colleague painters, but being mainly self taught.

I started my journey into Madonna wedding paintings on 2012, when a friend asked me to paint Our Lady of El Rocio to offer her bridal bouquet. Since then I have painted hundreds of Madonna and Child paintings commissions, collected by private collectors in Italy, México, the United States of America, Spain and Sweden.

Up until 2025 is when I discovered live wedding painting in The Netherlands, and became fascinated with capturing such beautiful moments on plain air, letting a full painting unfold in a few hours.

I feel extremely grateful that I can work on creating something that brings joy to so many people and to myself, as a painter.

Awards & Recognitions

2016 - 2017
Fine Arts Master Program. Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2006 - 2010
Bachelor in Art History. Universidad Iberoamericana. Mexico City, Mexico.
2025
Finalist at international painting contest: “Painting of the Year”. RRMND Galerie, Limburg, The Netherlands.
2024
First Prize at international painting contest: “Earthly Paradise”. Mondrian Huis, Amersfoort. The Netherlands.
2013
Honorific Mention at “53th National Watercolour Amateur Competition”.
National Watercolour Museum Guati Rojo. Mexico City, Mexico.
2005
First Prize at national youth painting contest “Don Quijote de la Mancha”.
Royal Club Spain. Mexico City, Mexico.
2025
“Painting of the Year”. Roermond Gallery. RMND Galerie, Limburg, The Netherlands. From January to March, 2025.
2024
“Earthly Paradise”. Het Mondriaanhuis.
Amersfoort, The Netherlands. From March to June, 2024.
2017
“Abiotic Factors”(curated by Marion von Osten). Bak. Utrecht, The Netherlands. From 24 June to 9 July, 2017.
2014
Affordable Art Fair. Mexico City, Mexico. October, 2014.
2014
“Woman is Art”. Teachers Center, Secretary of Public Education.
Mexico City, Mexico. From 18 March to 12 April, 2014.
2013
“Elementos”. Centro Cultural El Refugio. Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara.
From 29 Noviembre to 15 December, 2013.
2013
“About Fanny Rabel”. Israelite Sports Center.
Mexico City, México. From 11 November to 1 December, 2013.
2013
“53th National Watercolour Amateur Competition”.
National Watercolour Museum Guati Rojo.
Mexico City, Mexico. From 14 to 28 of July, 2013.
2013
“Annual Exhibition of
Sacred Art”.
Parish of San José María Escrivá de Balaguer.
Mexico City, Mexico. From May 24 to June 2, 2013.
2005
“Don Quijote de la Mancha”.
Royal Club Spain. Mexico City, Mexico.
2025
Roermond Gallery
Limburg, The Netherlands
Painting of the Year.
Online resource: https://paintingoftheyear.com/40-finalists
2024
Het Mondriaanhuis
Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Earthly Paradise.
Online resource: https://amersfoort.nieuws.nl/nieuws/64071/winnaars-
schilderwedstrijd-mondriaanhuis/
2017
BAK
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Abiotic Factors.
Online resource: https://www.bakonline.org/en/making+public/program/
abiotic+factors/
2013
Centro Cultural El Refugio
Guadalajara, México
Elementos.
Online resource: https://www.informador.mx/Cultura/Tlaquepaque-exhibira-el-
trabajo-de-67-pintoras-mexicanas-20131125-0143.html
2013
Israelite Sports Center
Mexico City, México.
About Fanny Rabel.
Online resource. Page 14 of 28. https://www.slideshare.net/danielocampo1441/
cdinforma-nm-2624-7-de-kislev-de-5774-mxico-df-a-10-de-noviembre-de-2013