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 centers on place-making in Puerto Rican communities through the lens of visual culture. Using decolonial and critical race theory methodologies, I analyze how artists engage with Puerto Rican muralism, contemporary art, and Creole architecture to challenge colonial legacies and reclaim cultural identity. My work examines the power of muralism to assert place-based belonging for the colonized, while also amplifying silenced narratives—particularly those tied to Afro-Puerto Rican identity and spatial memory. Through this interdisciplinary approach, I seek to illuminate how visual practices shape collective memory and transform the built environment into a site of resistance and renewal. My research has been featured in the Latinx Project’s Intervenxions and presented at leading platforms such as the Association for Art History Annual Conference in the United Kingdom.