Artist Biography
Elisa Barety is a freelance artist based in Indianapolis, IN. A native of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, she draws on popular media, science fiction, and fantasy for her bright illustrations.
She has a BA from DePauw University, where she studied oil painting and figure drawing under renowned Hoosier painter, Robert Kingsley. While at DePauw, Elisa was awarded the A. Reid Winsey Memorial Art Scholarship for the best prospective artist during her Freshman year.
Throughout her career, she has worked with both digital and traditional media to create oil paintings, digital illustrations, sketch cards (also known as ACEOs), comic book art, and more.
Elisa’s work has been shown at various galleries, including Saks Fifth Avenue in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis International Airport, and the Garfield Park Arts Center. She has also done work for Upper Deck and Mongoose Publishing.
La Jíbara, 2025
Guardiana de El Yunque, 2025
La Jíbara, 2025
Artist Statement
My body of work is inspired by the idea that our island, Puerto Rico, is full of rich stories and beauty. I draw from our voices, legends, and folk heroes to create a series that celebrates the strength of Puerto Rican women.
One of my pieces, La Jíbara, reimagines the figure of “El Jíbaro”, a symbol often seen in Puerto Rican art and culture as a woman. To me, she represents the many women who worked the fields or carried out invisible labor at home, whose efforts often went unrecognized.
La Charca de las Brujas, which tells the story of three African women in Puerto Rico who practiced their Yoruba faith. They were discovered gathering near a small pond outside San Juan and were accused of witchcraft before being burned at the stake. This work not only sheds light on a little-known part of our history but also calls attention to the ongoing issue of violence against women on the island.
My third painting, Guardiana de El Yunque, draws from the legend of a guardian or witch said to protect the rainforest of El Yunque. She symbolizes both the spirit of protection and the importance of caring for our natural resources, which continue to be threatened by economic development.
