‘Genuine and passionate’
Experienced artist hopes to draw in community as BAAC Gallery manager
Finding a purpose in life is not always easy, but Eliseo Casiano found his passion for art at an early age. As a result of his long list of achievements and extensive art exposure, he is now the gallery manager for the Batesville Area Arts Council. Since his start in September 2021, he has proven that his hard work will have a lasting impact on BAAC.
After graduating from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Since then, Casiano has had a myriad of experiences in the art world. He brings a wide range of expertise to BAAC, including interning in an art museum and having his artwork displayed in solo and group exhibitions and three permanent collections.
“The position seemed like a great opportunity to interact with Arkansas artists and makers and learn more about the inner workings of a nonprofit gallery space,” Casiano said. “I have previous art-handling experience from graduate school as a curatorial intern for the Louisiana State University Museum of Art.”
Casiano said his love for art comes from his mother, who owned a cake shop when he was young. It was there that he witnessed the process of creativity, and now he uses his family as inspiration in his art, while commemorating and honoring the people who shaped him, he said.
“Watching [my mother] sculpt and decorate cakes was my entry point into visual arts,” he said. “Most of my art practice relates to my family, specifically with portraiture. I’m primarily a painter and mine through family history and photographs for my compositions.”
Before hiring Casiano, the BAAC Gallery had only one employee, Executive Director Carly Dahl. An artist herself, Dahl earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Center for the Visual Arts at the University of Toledo in Ohio. She has been BAAC’s executive director since 2015 and served on the art council’s board of directors for four years prior to that. Dahl said she is thrilled to have someone working alongside her, especially someone with such skills and training as Casiano.
“I am excited to work with Eliseo and know he will be very beneficial to BAAC and the Batesville community …,” she said. “Eliseo has been great to work with and has helped increase the amount of artists’ work in the gallery, as well as making
updates and improvements to our website and social-media content. I am looking forward to seeing him add his vision to the arts and promote the work of the gallery.”
Ashley Williams, the BAAC Board of Directors’ president, holds a degree in instrumental music from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Her grandmother owned a ceramics studio, so Williams grew up surrounded by the arts and various crafts. She acknowledges how lucky the arts council is to have someone like Casiano as part of the team.
“I feel very fortunate that Eliseo is our gallery manager at the BAAC,” she said. “He brings a wealth of experience, including gallery management, fundraising, community engagement and so much more. Carly Dahl has done an amazing job in her time with BAAC, and I am incredibly excited at what the two of them can now accomplish together.”
When asked what stood out about Casiano during the hiring process, both Dahl and Williams agreed that his experience, along with his willingness to connect with the community through art, makes him an exceptional choice for BAAC.
“Eliseo’s enthusiasm about the arts and experience working with community outreach and youth programming stood out to the selection committee,” Dahl said. “He is new to the Batesville community, relocating from Arizona, and has already made connections with many artists in Arkansas.”
“Eliseo checked every single box for the search team …,” Williams said. “Our mission statement at BAAC is ‘to enrich our community through the arts,’ so his passion for our town and community fit perfectly with our overall mission. Not only did he have the technical skills we needed; Eliseo was an obvious fit with the heart of our organization.”
Dahl shared future plans for the gallery, including offering more educational opportunities, expanding community outreach and connecting with more artists. She recognizes that Casino’s fresh eyes will contribute to those plans and the continued advancement of BAAC, and his fervor for art will positively impact the Batesville community.
“He has continued to network with new artists, bringing the work of five new Arkansas artists into our gift shop before the holidays, as well as scheduling exhibitions with local and national artists for the 2022 calendar,” Dahl said. “I look forward to the growth of BAAC with his added expertise and enthusiasm. I am confident he will be able to add his take on the arts and help boost the voices of the many talented artists in our region.”
Not only does Casiano excel in creativity with his own art; he shares that gift and passion with his students at Lyon College in Batesville, where he is an adjunct instructor. He teaches Introduction to Visual Arts and finds it incredibly rewarding to have the opportunity to teach and help students, he said.
“I was fortunate to experience incredible backing and mentorship through my B.F.A. and M.F.A. programs,” Casiano said. “I hope to give that same guidance to other artists. Teaching provides a space to discuss art daily with other creators. I enjoy sharing information I gained from my mentors and watching students develop their art practice.”
Over the past few years, BAAC has aided in revitalizing downtown Batesville and the arts community, as well as bringing new life and excitement to the area, Williams said. Creativity is overflowing, and with many new artists, she is hopeful that the arts council will continue to help the growth and expansion of artistry and innovation.
“On almost every corner or building facade, there’s a beautiful mural; even our sewer drains are works of art,” Williams said. “I feel like BAAC gives a voice to so many artists, both in our community and beyond. We have so many young budding artists in our area, and we hope we can provide a safe and supportive space here for them to grow and flourish. Our town and community thrive when we can enrich our lives through art and creativity.”
It is no wonder that the arts council took a liking to Casiano. His ideology and philosophy align well with the arts council’s mission, and he aims to bring new life to the gallery, as well as continue to facilitate art exposure and opportunities for the public.
“I strive to build on BAAC’s mission toward community engagement by providing accessible art programming for Batesville and the surrounding region,” Casiano said. “I appreciate our support from BAAC patrons, especially during these unprecedented times. We hope to provide more in-person workshops and art events in the gallery this new year.”
Dahl and Williams said they are delighted to have someone working at BAAC who is passionate, positive, professional and an accomplished artist.
In the short time that Casiano has been at BAAC, he has already influenced changes and made an effective difference, but he won’t stop there. As the gallery manager, Casiano has plans to pursue a vision to further promote local artists and ensure that their work gets the exposure it deserves.
“We welcome all [Arkansas] artists/makers interested in selling or exhibiting work to contact BAAC,” Casiano said. “I hope to introduce new artists to our gallery and shine a light on the incredible work made by Arkansans.”
For more information on BAAC and its gallery, visit
“I strive to build on BAAC’s mission toward community engagement by providing accessible art programming for Batesville and the surrounding region.”
Eliseo Casiano
NEW GALLERY MANAGER FOR THE BATESVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL