About Me

My name is Elena-Ghislaine Valerie Elouadrhiri, but that's a mouthful: I prefer to go by Ellie. I like reading, drawing and listening to music. My favorite band is Tool, my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut, and I have too many favorite artists to even begin to choose one. My mother grew up in Rock Island, Illinois and my father grew up between Morocco and Southern France. I'm a first-generation Chicagoan and I've lived here my whole life. I have one little brother, Evan. He is thirteen and in eighth grade. We are both graduating this year, which is quite exciting. I'm hoping to stay in Chicago for college, with a major in either physics or anthropology and a minor of art. I hope to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago or the University of Chicago. I'm very excited to move onto college! This year I am participating in Advanced Arts at Gallery 37, which means I get to leave school at 1:30 every day and take a 2-hour college level studio class. I also am taking two classes at Marwen Arts and I have a job at LYFE Kitchen in River North, which I love. I have a very full schedule this year but I'm excited for everything that is on my plate. In the future, I want to illustrate children's books, tattoo people, have an "official" career. I want to eventually move to France or Morocco, rreconnect with my Mediterannean roots, raise a family, grow all of our own food, and make lots of art.