Elena Izcue

Elena Izcue (née Elena Izcue Cobián; 1889–1970) was a Peruvian illustrator, graphic artist, painter, educator, and textile designer. She was known for her modern decorative art and designs that celebrated a pre-Columbian art aesthetic.

Early life and education Elena Izcue Cobián was born in 1889, in Lima, Peru; she was a twin and her sister was Victoria. Their parents were María Antolina Cobián, and José Rafael de Izcue. She was a student of Daniel Hernández Morillo and José Sabogal. While in school she became interested in pre-Hispanic art, and met Philip Ainsworth Means, an American anthropologist working as the director of the archaeology section of the National Museum of Peru. This connection to Means allowed her access to view the pre-Columbian pieces in the museum.

Career She published two volumes of the book, Peruvian Art in School: a Manual for Teaching Drawing in Peruvian Schools (1926 and 1929) , which was well received by Peruvian president Augusto B. Leguía, and Izcue was awarded a two-year pension to study in Paris. She traveled with her twin sister Victoria Izcue to Paris, where they visited various workshops to help them establish a decorative arts practice. On their way home to Peru, they stopped in New York City to advise on the design the Peruvian Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

In 2024, at the 60th Venice Biennale Izcue's artwork was posthumously shown alongside other artists from Peru, including José Sabogal, Julia Codesido, Santiago Yahuarcani (born 1960), Rember Yahuarcani (born 1985), and Violeta Quispe (born 1989).

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