An alter-ego,is a compilation of who I am and who I was. I use saint electric as a way to communicate my written voice, my creative practice, and my intellect. Inspired by the power of lightning and the gentleness of religious saints, I combine two seemingly opposing entities to cultivate an essence rooted in legacy.
who is
saint electric?
who is estefanía?
I was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Archipelagos, Latin America. Yet, I have lived a significant amount of time in the Southern United States.
the artist
My artistic practice delves into the daily struggles of longing for place, grappling with challenging emotions related to loss and displacement. I explore the limitations imposed by systems and colonialism and give voice to the experiences of those affected. My paintings feature the pink wooden house of my great-grandmother and depict masked female figures alongside doodles inspired by Caribbean culture. I draw inspiration from Puerto Rican print media and Haitian Voodoo flags to express the feelings of distance and displacement.
the academic
As a doctoral candidate in the Department of Art History at Florida State University, my research focuses on analyzing the visual representations of Puerto Rican culture using decolonial and critical race theory methodologies. I specifically delve into Puerto Rican muralism, examining how artists respond to colonial legacies and aiming to uncover the potential of muralism to reclaim place-identity for the colonized. In addition to muralism, I explore contemporary art and Creole architecture to reclaim Puerto Rican Blackness and amplify silenced narratives and stories. My research has been featured in the Latinx Project’s Intervenxions and presented at prestigious platforms such as the Association for Art History Annual Conference.