Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Elsa Justel pursued studies in Composition and Electroacoustic Music and Journalism and Fine Arts in Buenos Aires. In 1988, Justel moved to France, where she received a doctorate degree in Aesthetics, Sciences and Technology of Arts from the University of Paris VIII. Currently, Justel teaches Techniques of Sound and Electroacoustic Composition at the University of Marne La Vallée ( France).

Because of her concurrent study of and development in the realms of image and music, Justel has always been interested in the relationship between these two languages, particularly how they are perceived. Following a period of intensive activity as a composer, Justel has re-oriented her focus towards multi-media and audiovisual projects, such as video art, documentary, and enterprise films. She has received several international composition awards in Europe, and her work has been projected and performed in major international festivals of electronic art and computer music all over the world.