Elena Grant is part of the World Bank Art Program, the unit in charge of acquisition, exhibition, cataloging, and research of artworks for the World Bank art collection. She has worked on projects showcasing the art of South Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. A specialist in European and American decorative arts, she is interested in the role of art patronage in dissemination of styles and artisanal expertise across borders and continents. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, in education and M.A. in English philology from Orenburg State Pedagogical University in Russia, as well as an M.A. in the history of decorative arts from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C.