Elsa Lebrija [b. 2001, Mexico City] creates paintings and mixed-media works that explore the human body, emotion, and cultural and scientific identity through a combination of abstract and figurative forms. Her practice incorporates acrylic, charcoal, ink, and occasionally fresco techniques, driven by an interest in textures, traces, and the marks left by the creative process.

Her work focuses on the subtle gestures of the female figure, the layers of cultural memory, and ideas derived from scientific research. She has exhibited internationally, including in Mexico, the United States, and Italy, and studied Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, later completing a postgraduate degree in Art Restoration and Conservation at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy.

As an artist, I know I’m expected to have a statement to define both my work and myself, but I’ve always struggled with them. It’s not that I don’t know how to write one; I’ve taken courses, learned the structure, and written many. The difficulty lies deeper: most statements I’ve written have never felt entirely true.
When they speak about my work, they don’t feel like they’re about me, and when they speak about me, they don’t seem to connect with the work. I’ve come to realize that this disconnect is a reflection of my belief that art should stand on its own, without the need for justification through polished language.
I understand the role of artist statements in navigating the art world; they can clarify intent, offer context, and help people engage. But I also believe they can become barriers filled with theatrical terminology and can also disconnect from the original piece or artist while feeling performative. I want my work to remain accessible and sincere, not wrapped in language that feels disconnected from the process of making.
I believe in a non-patronizing art practice, one where the act of creation is enough, and where meaning can be found (or not) by the viewer without being prescribed. If I enjoy making the work, and if others can experience it on their own terms, then I consider that a success.
I realize this reflection is a paradox in which trying to avoid writing a statement ends up becoming one, but art is full of contradictions, and if viewers enjoy ,or hate, their time in front of one of my pieces, then I’ve succeeded.