Lithuanian, b. 1991 Originally from Lithuania and having lived in Ireland before settling in New York City, Laura El is a digital illustrator whose work captures the vibrant, nostalgic pulse of urban life. A self-taught artist who transitioned from a career in hospitality to full-time illustration in 2019, El has gained widespread acclaim for her signature "meditative" line work and an intricate style that often utilizes over 20,000 digital brushstrokes to create a single, evocative composition. El’s work is characterized by its ability to turn everyday city moments into "storybook" scenes filled with light, architecture, and quiet longing. Her storytelling prowess and unique aesthetic, which blends Art Nouveau influences with modern digital techniques, have earned her a massive global following of over 100,000 on Instagram. In 2024, she expanded her practice with her first solo exhibition, Stories of the City, at the Philippe Labaune Gallery, where she introduced physical media like acrylics and crayons into her digital process. Beyond the gallery, El is a New York Times featured illustrator and the author of the bestselling book The Lurkers. Her work has been showcased in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan, and has successfully crossed the auction block at Sotheby’s and Christie's. Whether through a detailed digital canvas or a billboard in Times Square, El remains dedicated to creating "windows into another life".