elsa paredes was born in la paz on 20 december 1918. her father was the writer rigoberto paredes iturri and her mother was haydée candia torrico. her siblings were orestes, mercedes, and the well-known antonio paredes candia and rigoberto paredes candia. along with her family, elsa spent her childhood in the northern area of the city of la paz, more precisely in a house on calle sucre and junín, in which her parents passed on to the children their passion for art and culture.