23q4=\ / the moon river - {$M} Collage, 2021

Leni Smoragdova {$M} is a multidisciplinary artist and the creator of Transaction Art, a conceptual universe exploring anonymity, identity, and the interplay of social phenomena. Born into a Jewish family and raised in Odessa, Smoragdova moved to London in 2004 to study at Central Saint Martins, where she began developing her unique artistic vision. Her work delves into the commercialization of art and the invisible forces that shape human interactions, often through the lens of collective authorship and anonymity.

Leni Smoragdova {$M} is not only the artist’s original name but also, through Transaction Art, a collective identity for numerous anonymous participants. This duality seamlessly merges individual originality with the anonymity of those who choose to remain invisible, forming a distinctive brand. Anonymity is central to this concept, embodied in the term Hidden Faces.