Esteban Monsalve was born and raised in Venezuela. Influenced by his aunt Elda, a great painter, he became passionate about art at a young age. 

Pursuing various interests from engineering to fitness to photography allowed these experiences fostered a deep appreciation for detail, shape, and aesthetics. 

Like many others, pandemic-related isolation and job loss led to depression and anxiety for Esteban.  Always a self-taught and highly motivated person, Esteban was determined to overcome this, and he instinctively turned to nature. Whether hiking the mountains of upstate New York, or swimming in the Atlantic ocean, he was profoundly affected by nature's ability to ground the body and energize the soul. It was here that he found inspiration to return to painting. In so doing, he discovered the healing power of Art Therapy to rewire brain patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. 

Esteban utilizes the mediums of acrylic and plaster over canvas to recreate his experiences in nature in an abstract and unique way. The abstract shapes and dramatic color palette engage the viewer with drama and emotion. 

Esteban paints between two to six hours per day at his studio in Queens, NY. To ensure a dense texture, he layers paint over the course of several weeks, allowing time for each layer of paint to fully dry before a new coat is added. He draws inspiration from such painters as Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Mark Rothko, Jesus Rafael Soto, and Barnett Newman.