Elizabeth Grandsaert is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of memory, identity, history, and humanity's significant role in the natural world. Born in Mountain View, California, she earned her BFA from UCLA and has since lived and worked in various cities around the globe, including Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, Paris, Berlin, and San Francisco. Her diverse background in teaching, project management, and fabrication informs her creative approach, which intertwines narrative depth with striking visual elements.

From 2016 to 2020, Elizabeth founded the Pony Farm, a permaculture homestead she developed after purchasing a neglected property in Pioneer, California. The Pony Farm served as an artist residency program, offering low-income artists short-term housing in exchange for garden work. This innovative model fostered community and sustainability, earning attention and funding from the California Arts Council. In 2022, Elizabeth received the Center for Cultural Innovation's Cali Catalyst Award for her efforts in promoting cultural equity in rural areas and for advocating against oppressive local governments.

Inspired by her experiences at the Pony Farm and her engagement with rural communities through initiatives like the Tri-County LGBTQ+ Task Force, Elizabeth created Only the Lonely, a series of three large paintings funded by the Amador County Arts Council. This body of work addresses themes of isolation, mental health, and resilience, particularly within Amador County's rural population. By highlighting the unique struggles of residents, the paintings amplify underrepresented voices and provide a space for validation and connection. Featured in community events such as the Heart of Hope art show—produced in partnership with Amador Behavioral Health and Amador SPEAK—*Only the Lonely* combines vivid visuals with layered symbolism to invite viewers into a dialogue about shared human experiences.

In 2023, Elizabeth's On the Farm Comics received a grant of $132,000 from the KDA Creative Corps Initiative. This project promotes conservation and raises awareness while depicting rural life. The connection between rural living, community, and the natural world is evident on every page, as the main character, Jax DuBois, shares valuable insights on crucial topics like fire management and evacuation protocols.

In 2023, Elizabeth relocated to Los Angeles, marking the beginning of her newest body of work, Death to Nostalgia. In this series, she investigates memory as a fluid and dynamic process, challenging the notion of nostalgia as a romanticized perspective of the past. Through this exploration, Elizabeth delves into the emotional and evolving perspectives that shape identity and our understanding of history. Elizabeth's commitment to creativity, connection, and advocacy drives her practice, offering opportunities for reflection, healing, and growth to viewers and collaborators. Through her art and community engagement, she creates spaces where audiences can confront the ever-shifting nature of truth, identity, and belonging.

Read about her most recent work with ‘On the Farm Comics’ here