Eli Mendelson was born and raised in the south suburbs of Boston. After spending 14 years in Chicago, he relocated to Southern California, where he has proudly called home for the past 12 years. Eli is a proud queer trans man whose artistic journey began in 2021 during the pandemic as a creative outlet to combat boredom. What started with painting terracotta pots soon evolved to canvas and ultimately to wood, which remains his favorite medium.

In 2025, the devastating Altadena fires destroyed Eli’s home and more than one hundred of his paintings and artworks. It took nearly six months to find the courage to paint again, eventually leading him to establish a one-room studio in South Pasadena.

As an artist, Eli creates vibrant abstract paintings with acrylics on wood, drawing inspiration from the clean lines of mid-century modern design and bold, expressive color. Through his work, he explores movement, balance, and the emotional power of color while celebrating resilience, renewal, and creativity.