Raisa Melendez Tardi was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 1999, she moved to the United States, living in El Paso, Texas, and LaGrange, Georgia, before settling in San Antonio, Texas, where she has resided for the past 15 years.Raisa’s journey into the world of art began in her junior year of college, during a particularly stressful period. With encouragement from her friends and family, she started painting, and since 2018, she has pursued art passionately. Despite holding a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, Raisa chose to follow her artistic calling, diving into a self-taught journey that has shaped her unique style.
Raisa works primarily with acrylic paint, spray paint, and has recently ventured into oil paints. She also explores linoleum cuts, prints, block prints, and simple clay sculptures with her students. Her artistic style is a blend of photorealism and vibrant, pop-colored gradients, creating a smooth transition between colors. This fusion allows her to capture the essence of her subjects while infusing them with dynamic, colorful energy.
Drawing inspiration from the world around her, Raisa’s early works focused on flowers, anatomical hearts, and animals, eventually leading to her forte in portraits. Influenced by the strength and resilience of Frida Kahlo and the imaginative surrealism of Salvador Dali, Raisa aims to create art that is both powerful and thought-provoking.
Her achievements include participating in various shows, receiving grants from the city of San Antonio and Luminaria, and painting murals for significant projects like the 175th anniversary of Travis Park Church. Raisa also dedicates her time to teaching art, working with students through San Anto Cultural Arts, a nonprofit organization serving underprivileged children, and conducting workshops at UTSA Southwest Campus.
Currently, Raisa focuses on creating meaningful art that resonates with herself and others, balancing the challenges of an independent artist’s life.
Looking ahead, Raisa aspires to return to Puerto Rico to paint a mural of her grandmother in her hometown. She envisions creating a sustainable business from her art and potentially establishing an art school or grant-writing program to support her community.
Raisa Melendez Tardi story is one of resilience, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of passion, making her a notable figure in the art world.