Tell us a little about yourself.
A Chicago native, Elena Disabato is a painter in Logan Square with a prior professional career developing marketing materials for architecture firms. She studied Illustration and English at Syracuse University, graduating with a BFA in 2000. From there Elena lived in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, throwing the bi-monthly “Art & Science” events at Galapagos Art Space until 2006 when she returned to Chicago. Three of her pieces were exhibited in 2012 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. After a 12-year hiatus, Elena is reestablishing her creativity and showing work again publicly. Her work is primarily representational and is mostly known for cityscapes featuring local architectural elements, with a new abstract body of work delivered in 2019.
What kind of art do you create?
Elena develops paintings working in oil, watercolor and mixed media including crystal rhinestones and metallics.
How did you get started?
From an early age Elena’s grandmother, an artist herself, encouraged her to paint. She helped Elena to develop her artistic abilities, sending her to painting classes at an early age. Elena sold her first work when she was 12 at the Park Ridge Art Fair, and won school awards and scholarships in art throughout her education.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Elena’s style is bold and direct, depicting architecture, abstractions and figures that are aesthetically beautiful with an edge.