MANUEL A. ELÍAS

PROFILE

Manuel Elías is a photographer whose work explores the ephemeral yet deeply relevant nature of early memory, trauma, loss, and grief—not as endpoints, but as integral elements in life’s continuous cycle. Through his images, he shares his own process of navigating these emotions, offering a perspective that invites reflection rather than imposing answers, encouraging personal exploration through the quiet poetry found in everyday moments.

Born in Lima, Peru, in 1976, Manuel Elías first engaged with photography as a child when his mother encouraged him to document family gatherings—an early exercise in observation that would later shape his artistic approach. While studying filmmaking, cinematography, and advertising at the University of Lima, he developed a deeper connection with photography’s ability to express not just ideas but the gut impressions he absorbed from films, music, paintings, poetry, and literature.

Elías’ practice is intuitive, rooted in an impressionistic aesthetic that embraces the interplay of light, color, and atmosphere. Through his meditative gaze, his image-making is less about documenting reality and more about evoking how moments are tinged with the bittersweet essence of fragility.

Currently, he works as a photographer at the United Nations Headquarters, where his ability to capture nuanced emotion and fleeting moments extends into storytelling, offering deeper insight into the realms of international diplomacy and humanitarian affairs.

email: info [at] meliasphoto [dot] com.