From the walls of Jackson Heights to some of the most representative public art projects in New York, Eliot Lazare Salomé-Díaz, known artistically as “ELI”, has turned art into a powerful tool to preserve culture, strengthen communities and inspire new generations.
A first-generation Peruvian American of German descent, ELI is deeply proud of his Peruvian roots, especially his indigenous heritage. That identity has been the basis of an artistic career dedicated to telling stories, rescuing collective memories and creating spaces where communities can see themselves reflected.
Born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens County, he found his first form of expression in graffiti. What began as an artistic manifestation in the streets evolved into a life mission.
“Over time I understood that my purpose was never simply to paint,” he says. «Art became the tool that God put in my hands to connect people, strengthen communities, preserve our culture and inspire others to discover the power they also carry within. My real work has never been a mural; “It has always been the people.”
His story is also deeply marked by his family. He remembers that a large part of his way of understanding work and service was born from observing his grandfather, Marcelino Salomé Calderón, in the family workshop.
«Today I understand that my grandfather not only taught me to work with my hands. He taught me to solve problems, to serve others and to never say something was impossible. That philosophy continues to guide my life. Every mural, every community project and every cultural initiative that I carry out carries a piece of that workshop called Mecánica Salomé.
During the 1990s, ELI was one of the main promoters of Elements of Style, a brand that helped define the aesthetics of New York streetwear and that gave voice to a generation influenced by urban culture.
His talent has led him to develop important murals that today form part of the cultural landscape of New York. Among them, Illmatic30, The Infamous 30th and The Notorious BIG 25th Anniversary Tribute stand out, works that preserve the history of hip-hop and turn public space into a gallery open to all.
For ELI, graffiti was never just paint on a wall.
«Graffiti taught me that a wall can become a bridge. “A mural can start conversations, heal wounds, restore pride to a neighborhood, and remind people that they too are part of their community’s history.”
One of the most significant moments of his career came in 2024, when, together with his son, conceptual artist Iysaiah Justice Salomé-Díaz, he created the mural inaugurated during the official naming ceremony for Calle Perú in Jackson Heights. The work honors the resilience, contributions and legacy of the Peruvian community in the United States and also represents a legacy shared between father and son.
Beyond his artistic side, ELI is co-founder of Jackson Heights Day, an initiative that promotes community development through public art, supporting small businesses, youth leadership and celebrating cultural diversity. His work seeks to strengthen the sense of belonging and demonstrate that art can become a tool for social transformation.
Despite his achievements, he assures that the greatest challenge has never been artistic.
«Today I am no longer afraid of change. I am afraid of leaving this world without having shared everything I came to contribute. That thought drives me every day to continue creating, learning and serving.
When asked what dreams he still has to fulfill, his response transcends personal recognition.
«I want to continue taking my creativity to places where it has not yet reached, but more importantly, I want to open paths for new generations. If one day my name is remembered, I hope it will not only be for the murals I painted, but for the people I inspired to believe in themselves and the power of their own creativity.
To the young people who today begin a path similar to his, he leaves a clear message:
«Never let someone make your dream smaller because they can’t see it. People will first think you are crazy; later they will ask how you did it. Stay true to who you are. “Discipline, humility and love of serving will always speak louder than recognition.”
Those who still consider graffiti solely as vandalism also receive a strong response.
«My life is the answer. Graffiti was my starting point, but never my limit. Thanks to that culture I found a voice, I discovered a purpose and I understood that art can transform lives when it is born from respect, discipline and the desire to serve.
«I come from Jackson Heights, Queens, a place where more than 160 cultures coexist. Growing up there taught me that diversity does not divide us; strengthens us. “My work has always sought to unite people, preserve our roots and demonstrate that art has the power to leave a legacy much greater than painting on a wall.”
«In the end, murals wear out over time. What remains forever is the mark we leave on people.
Reflecting on his legacy, ELI says he has never measured success by the number of murals created or the recognitions received.
«I believe that we all come to this life with a purpose. Mine has been to use art as a bridge between generations, between cultures and between people who perhaps would never have met otherwise.
«My Peruvian roots taught me the value of family, work and honoring those who walked before us. Jackson Heights taught me the value of diversity and living with the entire world in a few streets. Those two identities live in everything I create.
«Today I understand that my responsibility goes beyond making art. My responsibility is to open doors for those who come behind, preserve our culture for future generations and demonstrate that creativity can also be a form of leadership and service.
“If I ever leave a legacy, I hope it is not just for the walls I painted, but for the people I inspired to believe in themselves, for the communities I helped strengthen, and for having shown that art can change the way a person views their neighborhood, their culture, and their own future.”
“Because in the end, a mural can last many years, but an inspired life can transform generations.”
Before concluding the conversation, the artist dedicated a few words of gratitude to those who have marked his path.
«To my mother and my entire family, thank you for being my first home and my first school. To my grandfather Marcelino Salomé Calderón, for teaching me that with work, creativity and service everything is possible. To my children, for inspiring me to continue growing as a father, as a human being and as an artist. And thanks to Jackson Heights and Peru. One gave me my roots; the other gave me my voice. They both live in my heart and in every project I create.
With each mural and each community initiative, Eliot Lazare Salomé-Díaz continues to demonstrate that art can be much more than an aesthetic expression: it can become a bridge between cultures, a tool to strengthen communities, and a legacy capable of inspiring future generations.
