About me

 Elsa Farrús Rusiñol

As an artist, I firmly believe in beauty’s power to enhance quality of life through its ability to bring contradictions into harmony. Art isn’t a luxury, but a necessity – not just for society, but for each individual. When we make decisions about our environment, it’s intimately connected to our personalities and activities, either to be recognized and gain new perspective, or to be internalized allowing us to progress toward becoming more conscious and aware beings in our actions. Art is vibration, perspective opens pathways and generates new spaces. We are infinite atoms that expand and contract in life’s dance, responding to external vibrations as an energetic principle. The artist has both the responsibility and ability to open spaces through canvases, sculptures and murals that allow reality to be dreamed until it transforms into fact; then life does the rest. Thanks to the universe for its colors….

1. Academic Training and Specialized Courses (Chronological Order)

Formal Education

  • 1990-1992: Workshop on Plastic Arts, «Leonardo da Vinci.»
  • 1993: Seminar: «Mediterranean Routes of Painting: Masters and Workshops Around 1500,» IUMP.
  • 1994: Seminar: «Mediterranean Routes of Painting: The Eagles of the Renaissance,» IUMP.
  • 1995: Course: «Princes, Palaces, and Artists in the Era of Alfonso the Magnanimous,» Universidad I. Menéndez Pelayo.
  • 1996: Course: «Gaudí and the Architecture of Nature,» Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi.
  • 1997: Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Sant Jordi University of Barcelona, specializing in Conservation and Restoration.
    • Course: Bookbinding, Casa Golferichs.
  • 1999:
    • Postgraduate: «Introductory Workshops on Art Therapy Psychotherapy,» CEATE, University of Barcelona.
    • Postgraduate: «Presentation Systems,» Official College of Doctors and Graduates in Fine Arts of Catalonia.
    • Reiki Usui-Tibetan Mastery.
  • 2000:
    • French simultaneous translation.
    • Advanced proficiency in English and Italian, Official School of Languages.
  • 2001: Course: «Portraiture,» Casa Elizalde.
  • 2009: AutoCAD 2D and 3D, College of Fine Arts, Barcelona.
  • 2014: Social Education Technician.
    • Catalan Level C Certification.
  • 2017: Certificate: Perspectives on Addressing Child Abuse, University of Barcelona (10-14 July 2017).
    • Recognized with 2 ECTS credits.
  • 2018: Diploma in Art Therapy, Dynamic Outreach.
    • Special Education Monitor, Dynamic Outreach.

Specialized Courses

  • 2017:
    • Museum Management, Association of Friends of the Arts, Barcelona.
    • Anthropology: «From Isis to Mary Magdalene,» Egyptian Museum of Barcelona, Marius Carol.
  • 2019:
    • «Regent Queens,» Egyptian Museum of Barcelona, Irene Cordón.
    • «Biblical Archaeology of Mount Sinai,» Egyptian Museum of Barcelona.
  • 2020: EdX Harvard: «Pyramids of Giza: Archaeology and Ancient Egyptian Art.»
  • 2021: Egyptian Museum of Barcelona: «Deir el Medina: A Very Special Community.»
  • 2022: Egyptian Museum: Hators.
  • 2023:
    • Egyptian Museum: «Discovering the History and Imagination of the Copts.»
    • Course: «Pre-Columbian Colombia.»

Therapeutic and Holistic Complements

  • 1991-1999: Mastery in Reiki (Karuna, Usui-Tibetan, and Komyo).
  • 2010-2011: Bach Flower Therapy and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques).

2. Professional Experience (Chronological Order)

Freelance and Artistic Projects

  • 1997–Present: Freelance:
    • Artistic advisor, illustrator, and creator of personal works.
    • Collaboration on numerous artistic and design projects.
  • 2001–2009: Director and Manager of «El Taller,» Barcelona:
    • A space dedicated to studying and developing the creative process in visual arts.
  • 2011:
    • Art Therapy Workshop: «The Art of Recreating Yourself,» La Bòbila Cultural Center, Hospitalet.
    • Full-time focus on jewelry creation, set design, interior design pieces, and custom commissions.
    • Design of the «XXI Century Award» for the Parliament of Catalonia, presented at Palau Sant Jordi.
    • Design of the «Ark of Noah Award,» presented at the annual event.
  • 2020–2024: Annual in-person training in Egypt, guiding groups of 50 participants.

Teaching and Educational Roles

  • 1997–2000:
    • Teacher of technical drawing and preparatory courses for university entrance, Alfa Centre d’Ensenyament SL, Barcelona.
    • Lecturer at Ateneu Cultural Catalonia, Barcelona.
  • 2001: Coordinator of higher and intermediate education cycles at Alfa Centre d’Ensenyament SL.
    • Teacher at CEIP Flora Tristan, Barcelona: Industrial Technology and Geometry.
  • 2007–2009: Coordinator of the «Learning to Grow» project, integrating art, pedagogy, psychology, and holistic therapies for children and adolescents.
    • Includes summer camps, seminars, extracurricular activities, and workshops for youth integration through art.

Cultural and Design Projects

  • 2006: Directed a painting workshop at the Catalan Federation of Equestrian Sports during the Salon of Childhood and Youth, Barcelona.
    • Collaborated with Casa Batlló and the Planeta Imaginario Foundation for autistic children. Coordinated an exhibition to raise funds during the Autism Congress.
  • 2008–2009: Coordination of the youth group and events for the Artists’ Collective of Sants, Barcelona.
    • Organized exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and local projects with the Sants Town Hall.

Interior Design and Scenic Art

  • 1997–2013:
    • Scenic designs for theater productions, including «The Wizard of Oz,» «Beauty and the Beast,» «Grease,» and «Aladdin» in collaboration with Somnis Teatre, Barcelona.
    • Interior design for private spaces, including energetic functional designs for Kechak Imports (2009–2010).

3. Conferences, Forums, and Educational Projects (Chronological Order)

Forums

  • 1998: Participant in the «II Forum on Monument Restoration,» La Caixa Foundation, Barcelona.
  • 2024: Participant and speaker at the «1st International Summit of Systemic Leaders,» Mexico, organized by Grupo CUDEC.

Conferences

  • 2004:
    • Presenter at the «1st Visual Arts and Education Conference,» Ateneu de Barcelona, as part of the Forum Ciutat, organized by the Official College of Doctors and Graduates in Fine Arts of Catalonia.
  • 2005:
    • Presenter at the Art Education Conference, Terrassa: «Artistic Education Methodology,» based on her own teaching methods.
  • 2007:
    • Collaboration and attendance at the «III International Autism and Developmental Disorders Congress,» Hotel Condes de Barcelona.
  • 2009:
    • Presenter: «Education in Visual and Plastic Arts,» College of Fine Arts, Barcelona.
  • 2024:
    • Delivered a keynote speech to undergraduate students at the «1st International Summit of Systemic Leaders,» organized by Universidad Multicultural CUDEC, Mexico (July 22–26, 2024).

Educational Projects

  • 2007–2009:
    • Director of «Learning to Grow,» an educational project integrating art, pedagogy, psychology, and holistic therapies for children and adolescents.
    • Developed and implemented summer camps, seminars, extracurricular activities, and workshops in various centers focused on integrating the self through creative expression.
  • 2006–2011: Collaborator with the Sants Artists’ Collective, Barcelona:
    • Managed youth art events and exhibitions in coordination with the Sants City Council.
    • Led artistic workshops and public exhibitions.

4. Exhibitions and Awards (Chronological Order)

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions
  • 2009:
    • «Sculptures,» Pedralbes Center, Barcelona (in collaboration with the College of Fine Arts).
  • 2010:
    • Presentation of the artwork for the Tarot of Silvia Raposo, including graphic works and the final product.
  • 2013:
    • «Smiles,» Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, La Bòbila Cultural Center, Hospitalet.
  • 2014:
    • «Roses of Gaia,» La Xocolateria, El Vendrell.
  • 2015:
    • Exhibition at the Cultural Association Aikido Sakaki, Caldes de Montbui.
  • 2018:
    • «Worlds of Gaia» and «Subtle Worlds,» Librería Síntesis, Barcelona.
  • 2019:
    • II Festival del Perdón, Seville: Individual exhibition and event organization.
    • «Faces of Gaia,» Librería Síntesis, Barcelona.
  • 2022:
    • December: «The Presence of I Am,» invited by Nahualli Gallery, New York, exhibited at Oculus World Trade Center.
  • 2023:
    • December: Book launch for Recuerda la Mujer que Tú Eres and participation in the «Shamanic Art» exhibition, New York, invited by Nahualli Gallery.
International Collective Exhibitions
  • 1999–2011: Annual exhibitions at L’Espace Culturel Saint-Jérôme, Toulouse, France.
  • 2005:
    • Lineart International Art Fair, Ghent, Belgium.
    • «Homage to Don Quixote,» Museum of the Americas, Miami, USA.
  • 2006–2007: Permanent mural exhibitions, Ottawa Cultural Center, Canada.
Group Exhibitions in Spain
  • 1997–2018: Various group exhibitions across Barcelona and other regions, including:
    • «Colors,» Gràcia Gallery, Barcelona (2003).
    • «Eroticism and Poetry,» Biblioteca Vapor Vell, Barcelona (2007–2008).
    • «Art and Chess,» International Chess Open, Cotxeres de Sants, Barcelona (2011).
    • «Avant-Garde: Thought and Matter,» Cotxeres de Sants, Barcelona (2008).

Awards

  • 2007: First Prize in Painting, Canet de Mar Town Hall.
  • 2007–2013:
    • Recognized by FEDAN (Animal Federation of Catalonia) for the design of sculptures and awards, presented at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.
  • 2005: Selected for the Jaurena Art Painting Prize.
  • 2006: Grand Prix des Arts, Le Fousseret, Toulouse, France.

5. Other Projects (Murals, Media, Bibliography, and Miscellaneous)

Murals and Interior Design

  • 2004:
    • Internal painting and mural reform for walls and staircases at Polmax Gym, Barcelona.
  • 2006:
    • Vestibule mural for the Bioseos Center, Barcelona.
  • 2007:
    • Interior mural for «El Gall i la Gallina» nursery, Barcelona.
  • 2008:
    • Large-scale mural (10m x 5m) in the auditorium of the Ottawa Cultural Center, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona.
  • 2010:
    • Scenic and decorative designs for multiple productions, including:
      • «The Wizard of Oz,» Somnis Teatre.
      • «Beauty and the Beast,» in collaboration with Somnis Teatre.

Media and Publications

  • 1999:
    • Radio interview on Jocs de Nit with Josep Cuní.
  • 2006:
    • Featured in Infonit, a television report by BTV, Barcelona.
  • 2009: Columnist for ADN magazine.
  • 2010:
    • Collaborated on El Jardín de Titís y Tamarinos by Montserrat Ubach (www.darwin.cat).
  • 2014-2015:

Bibliography

  • 2004:
    • Contributor to 20 Años de Historia Ligada a Nuestros Barrios, edited by Fundación Caixa de Catalunya.
  • 2005:
    • Published The Color of Words, a poetry illustration book presented at the 1st Congress of Visual Arts Education, Terrassa.
  • 2008:
    • Contributor to the Darwin Project focusing on pedagogy, children’s education, and animal conservation.

Miscellaneous

  • 2005:
    • Juror for the Sants Festival Competitions, Barcelona.
  • 2007:
    • Cultural director for Pau Sense Treva, a children’s and youth group under the Sants Artists’ Collective.