Interview

Sep 24

Elza Rigel

Elza Rigel is an independent artist, illustrator, and designer based in Barcelona. She studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni, Milan. Her work is rooted in themes of food, memory, silence, femininity, and subtle irony, creating poetic narratives that invite both reflection and recognition. Elza’s artistic language blends fine art and decorative craft. She combines minimalist linework with clean composition, symbolic clarity, and emotional nuance. While digital techniques remain part of her practice, she has developed a distinctive handmade approach that merges watercolor with hand embroidery on paper. This quiet yet radical technique creates depth and tactility: the softness of thread, the transparency of pigment, and the delicate tension between surfaces become layers of meaning. She has exhibited at the HolyArt exhibition in Barcelona (2023) and is currently developing a narrative-driven body of work that bridges illustration and fine art, with the aim of entering broader gallery contexts and collaborations.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I’m a Barcelona-based illustrator, designer, and independent artist with over 13 years of experience in visual storytelling. My journey began with a background in fashion design, which gave me a strong sense of composition, symbolism, and how visual language can live both on the body and in space. Over time, my practice evolved beyond design into illustration and fine art, where I could explore more poetic, narrative-driven expressions.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“My work doesn’t comment directly on political or social issues. Instead, it explores more intimate and universal themes—memory, food, silence, emotional traces, and the quiet atmosphere left behind after shared moments. I aim to capture subtle emotional spaces that often go unnoticed, creating imagery that feels both personal and timeless.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“It’s a balance. I often begin with a strong central concept or symbolic image, but I allow improvisation during the process—especially when working with embroidery or watercolor. These materials introduce a certain organic unpredictability that I value and embrace.”

Are there any art world trends are you following?

“I’m drawn to the ongoing dialogue between fine art and craft, especially how traditional hand techniques are being reimagined in contemporary contexts. The blending of digital and handcrafted processes is something I also explore in my own work—bringing tactility and authenticity into otherwise minimal compositions.”

What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?

“My process combines both digital and handcrafted techniques. I create linear digital drawings that mimic the softness of pencil work, and I also work with watercolor on paper, often layering it with hand embroidery. This mix of precision and tactility allows me to achieve depth, texture, and a sense of quiet emotional resonance in each piece.”

“That’s why animation speaks to me — when illustrations begin to move, and even the softest, subtlest gestures become breath, become meaning. It’s not about form — it’s about soul, finally speaking. For a long time, I searched for a way to bring that same aliveness into hand-made work. And when I found it, it felt like a quiet revelation.”

What does your art mean to you?

“Art is both a language and a form of presence for me. It’s a way of slowing down, of making visible the subtle feelings and atmospheres that are otherwise intangible. It connects memory, silence, and emotion, giving them a form that others can also inhabit.”

What’s your favourite artwork and why?

“Rather than a single favorite, I am most drawn to works that embody simplicity and symbolic richness—for example, Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes or Agnes Martin’s quiet abstractions. Their restraint and depth inspire me: they show how minimal forms can hold immense emotional resonance.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“Last year, I participated in the HolyArt group exhibition in Barcelona, which was a meaningful opportunity to share my work in a collective setting. My focus so far has been on developing a body of work that bridges illustration and fine art, but I am excited to bring this narrative-driven practice into gallery and exhibition contexts in the near future.”

Instagram: @Elza.rig