Hi, I'm lovely irena
Updated July 2026
Figure modeling has taken me far beyond the artist's studio. From helping sculpt permanent public monuments to collaborating with painters, educators, and artists around the world, I have come to see the human figure as more than a subject it is a bridge between art, history, and storytelling.
My career has evolved from traditional life drawing sessions into projects that leave a lasting cultural impact. After four years modeling at Chicago's former American Academy of Art, I have continued working with artists and institutions committed to preserving the tradition of figurative art.
Most recently, I served as the living reference model for two permanent public monuments: the Women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott monument at Legacy Plaza in Montgomery, Alabama, and Harriet Hayden in the John & Harriet Hayden Monument in Lexington, Kentucky. These collaborations reinforced my belief that art models play an essential role in creating works that educate, inspire, and endure for generations.
Today, I continue to collaborate with painters, sculptors, universities, curating workshops and international drawing groups while building a platform.
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🖼️ Collect my work: https://deandreabrown.pixieset.com
📸 Follow my journey: https://www.instagram.com/figure_model_
🎥 Watch me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lovelyirena?si=sM7WGdLgCIVWju1C
My Philosophy
In life there are fears that will hold us back from what we want,
but we must learn to fight them with the courage from within.
LEGACY Plaza – MONTGOMERY, ALABAMa
Some opportunities change the course of a career. For me, one of those moments was collaborating with internationally acclaimed sculptor Basil Watson on a permanent public monument at Montgomery Square in Montgomery, Alabama.
Over the course of several modeling sessions, I served as the living reference for three of the women represented in the Women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott monument. Every pose, shift in weight, and expression helped inform the sculpture's anatomy, movement, and emotional presence. Watching clay evolve into bronze gave me a deeper appreciation for the relationship between artist and model and the trust required to create meaningful public art.
Installed outside the Legacy Museum, the monument honors the women whose courage, resilience, and determination helped sustain the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the broader Civil Rights Movement. Knowing that my contribution became part of a work that will educate and inspire future generations is one of the greatest honors of my career.
This experience reinforced something I have long believed.. Art Models are more than subjects to be observed. We are collaborators in the creative process, helping artists transform ideas into lasting works of art. To know that my work now lives in a place of such historical significance is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
As I continue my journey as a professional Figure Model, I hope to contribute to more public monuments, museum collections, and educational projects that preserve history through the power of the human figure.