ABOUT

April Zelenka is a painter, designer, and photographer based in Madison, Wisconsin. With a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and over a decade of experience in the creative industry, her work bridges the disciplines of visual design and fine art, blending structure with emotion, clarity with intuition. At Studio A.Zelenka, she approaches brand identity like visual storytelling—shaping meaningful, intentional design for brands that care deeply about what they do.

Her creative practice also includes brand and lifestyle photography, using natural light and refined composition to extend the same visual language she brings to her design work—calm, grounded, and deeply considered.

Her paintings are abstract and emotive, often rooted in moody, neutral palettes inspired by nature and memory. Each piece is created with intention and restraint, reflecting her love of refined interiors, minimal color stories, and the quiet power of handmade work.

April's creative journey is deeply personal—fueled by a lifelong passion for beauty and expression, and inspired by her late grandfather, who encouraged her early artistic explorations. Today, she creates as a way of returning to that place of quiet reflection and emotional resonance, offering work that feels as meaningful to live with as it is to make.

APPROACH

Whether painting, designing, or photographing, my creative process is rooted in stillness, clarity, and emotional resonance. I believe that beauty doesn't need to shout to be heard—and that the most powerful work comes from restraint, reflection, and intention.

I’m drawn to quiet textures, muted palettes, and the kind of details that feel lived-in rather than performative. My work is guided by feelings, memories, and a desire to create things that are not just beautiful, but also meaningful to live with.

Everything I create—whether a brand identity, a portrait, or a painting—is shaped with the same goal: to offer something honest, human, and lasting.