With every stroke of his paintbrush Elias San Miguel is unmasking the beauty of the world that so many people tend to overlook. In a time when art is viewed so critically and subjects are so controversial, Elias San Miguel is choosing to go against the societal norm and pursue his passion of painting life as he sees it. San Miguel's strong sense of culture and background enable him to follow his dreams and create brilliant works of art that represent the natural beauty and landscape of Texas, the Southwest and Mexico. 

As artists such as Picasso and Dali struggled with their identity and where they felt their art fit in with culture and society, Elias San Miguel is trapped in an era that has overlooked so many brilliant art subjects and chooses to concentrate on art that has been labeled "contemporary."  Picasso chose to do art that represented a deeper meaning than its appearance. He understood and was able to make others understand that the deeper meaning of art has to be sought out and worked for. Dali, on the other hand, chose to take a subject that appeared to be simple and transform it into art that displayed complex images and meaning. Elias San Miguel's art is a modern day fusion of complexity and deeper meaning. While his paintings appear to be very straightforward and simple, there is a deeper meaning behind each expression the subjects have and the story each painting tells. San Miguel chooses subjects that represent the beauty and splendor of Mexican American and Southwest culture. His paintings convey messages of honor, pride, respect, and beauty in simplicity and reverence for the nature that surrounds us.

 For as far back as Elias San Miguel can remember he has been an artist of some form. For him art has always been a way to share his thoughts, explore new surfaces and communicate ideas and emotions. His paintings are filled with vibrant colors and depictions of people who are deep in thought. It is these expressions, which he is able to capture, that make his art so captivating. Upon viewing the art the spectator is drawn in by the vibrant colors and lively images, but it is the introspective expression, which the subjects hold, that keeps the viewer there and wondering what the subject is contemplating. San Miguel labels his art as "colorful, traditional realism." He says the subject of his art has not changed significantly since he began painting.  He enjoys what he paints and many lifetimes wouldn't be enough to finish all the ideas he has. San Miguel searches for the beauty that can be found all over Texas and the people who can help convey his message. San Miguel creates art that tells a story, conveys an emotion, and records moments in time.

          Elias San Miguel was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and is the sixth of eight children.  He stated that, "even though we didn’t have much money, there was a lot of love, and togetherness and my family gave me all the encouragement and support I needed for my art. I consider myself very fortunate to have such a wonderful family." As a boy San Miguel loved the outdoors and was fascinated with horses, the country, wildlife and nature.

In the Mexican American community there is a lot of pride for heritage and ancestors. San Miguel is able to capture moments of history and convey their importance through his paintings. Through his art San Miguel is recording the history of his people and the many battles they fought to achieve their freedom and independence. He is also recording the beauty that is Texas. With every marigold in the sun or depiction of fruit being sold in "El Mercado" San Miguel is capturing the essence of San Antonio and essentially of Texas. The sense of pride that goes into the work and the beauty of the rewards received are expressed in many of San Miguel's paintings. Much of the beauty that surrounds us is overlooked in our day-to-day travels, yet Elias San Miguel takes the time to record these moments that make life worth living. The battles fought and the wages won are recorded on his canvas and will forever be displayed with the vibrant colors and strong emotions expressed. In Elias San Miguel's paintings there is a sense of bringing back the past and enabling future generations to experience a life they otherwise would not have known. It is also an outlet for him to express the emotions he experiences all around him. Whether it is in the laughter of a young child or the aspirations of a cowboy, Elias San Miguel is recording a moment that may have been overlooked, but now will never be forgotten.

Without a doubt Elias San Miguel has carved himself a name in the art world and strongly believes that determination and strong will can take you anywhere you need to go in life. San Miguel also feels that his love and inspiration of his culture, the colors that surround every day life, and cowboy life of the American West continue to motive him to create art and capture moments in time. As an artist, your identity helps shape the art you produce. Who you are and where you come from is evident in every piece you create. An artist cannot remove himself from the emotions he is trying to express in his painting. It is a part of every stroke of his brush and every color he mixes. It is evident that who you are becomes what the painting represents, and denying your identity would take away a vital part of the art you create.

From the beginning, when he was just a small boy building mud figurines to the present, vibrant colors have replaced the mud and the figurines have transformed into images of strength and pride.  Elias San Miguel has molded his talent into a skill that can be experienced and appreciated for its complexity and strength. San Miguel has opened the door for Mexican American artists and artists from all cultures who needed to find the strength to believe in their work.  His sense of pride and honor for his heritage has made him a pioneer in the field of contemporary art. It has also allowed him to break down the barriers imposed by those who were once unable to look past the images on the canvas and can now experience the representation of beauty and strength engrained into every piece he creates.