top of page

AERA is a New York based multidisciplinary artist who explores sculpture, performance, sound, painting, and writing. Her work exists between play, humor and pain, where modern narratives around identity and belief are ideated, researched, visualized and built into a parallel dimensional plane of contemporary mythology. 

Her practice combines unconventional materials—such as glass rhinestones and everyday textiles—to explore the impact of war on childhood, the complexities of gender roles, and the transformative rituals of domestic life. 

Central to her work are the themes of gender, sexuality and control, tradition, systems of belief, and technology, war, money and memory, contradictions and messiness. She reflects on how material and body can both hold the potential to have different purposes than what is reflected in their past such as seen with the bodily inflatable piece, Bird of Paradise. This work was crafted from vinyl tablecloths which you would find in a backyard at a child’s birthday party, transformed from familiar domestic objects into forms that evoke sexuality and envelop space.  

 

Her artistic process is rooted in experimentation with both old archival techniques and cutting-edge technologies like nitinol wire and prosthesis. She chooses materials for symbolism. Her piece Communal Beast is made from braided strips of old clothing, a generational technique used here to explore how morals are embedded in the cloth during the process through singing while braiding. The performative transformation of the materials and the form of the work forge new entities that reflect contemporary dogmas and their wonderfully imperfect evolutions. 

 

Her inspirations include Kara Walker for her innovative use of material. In her piece A Subtlety, Walker explores the contradictions of how history is experienced through the lens of sugar and the lives of those forced to produce it. Wangechi Mutu also influences her practice with her sirenic goddess, Water Woman  that connect us to both the past and speculative futurism, all while remaining rooted in the earth.

 

Through her work, she aims to provoke thought and dialogue about the complexities and imperfections of human experience. She wants viewers to engage with intricate relationships between identity, narrative, and societal norms through personal and collective narratives.

In the future, she intends to explore the fusion of biotechnology and 3D printing with ancient folk practices. This exploration aims to create immersive installations that engage viewers on multiple sensory levels, challenging them to reconsider the narratives surrounding identity and heritage in a contemporary context.

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

2023              Parsons, New School, New York, NY- MFA

2021               University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico - BFA 

2011                University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM - BUS

2009              Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain 

2008              Gaia Education, Certificate in Sustainable Urban Design, Albuquerque, NM

                       Gabor Maté compassionate inquiry certificate, Albuquerque, NM

2007              Curandersimo certificate, Oaxaca, Mexico

                       Medical Spanish certificate, Oaxaca, Mexico

2001               Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2000              Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington

1999               Documentary Film internship, Subhari Network, Mumbai, India

1998               Scott Baxter, Commercial Photography, Scottsdale, AZ, internship

1997               College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico

EXHIBITION RECORD

2024             Exquisite Corpse, Chicken Coop Collective, Brooklyn, NY
                      Experimental performance in collaboration with Carolina Muñoza, Grace Exhibition Space,                                NYC Glass House Spring Open Studios, Glass House Studios, NYC

2023             Thesis Show Aaronson/Keller Gallery Manhattan, NYC, NY

                      Museum Interaction, SMK Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark

                      There is Only After, MC Gallery, Manhattan, NYC, NY

2022             ALGO(RYTHM), Tanthem Collective, Manhattan, NYC, NY  

                      First Steps into Fire (Performance), This Flesh is All I have to Offer Group Show, Grace                                        Exhibition Space, New York, NY 

                      Spring 2022 Open Studios, Parsons 25 E 13th Building, NYC, NY 

                      Everything Her You Saw Last Night, Group Show, 25 E 13th Gallery at Parsons, NYC, NY 

2021              Sex, Money, Trash - Group Show, 25 E 13th Gallery, Manhattan (NYC), NY  

                      Material as Metaphor, Group Show, 25 E 13th Gallery, New York, NY

                      Her Strength, Collab with Jodie Herrera and New Mexico United, Albuerque, NM

2020             Covington Rhode Senior Prize Winner Exhibition, Virtual, worldwide & Albuquerque, NM, 

                      Regional winner presentation, Bio Design Challenge International Virtual Exhibit, worldwide

2019              Intersections of Digital and Physical Media Group Show, UNM ArtsLAB, Albuquerque, NM

2018              Urban Abstractions, Solo Show, Ojo Optique, Albuquerque, NM

2012              International Symposium of Electronic Arts (ISEA), Albuquerque Museum with Meow Wolf,                                  Albuquerque, NM

                      Backseat Driver, solo, The Orpheus, Albuquerque, NM

2011               Arte Nazari, City Invitational Photo Show, Meknes, Morocco

2010              Immigrants in Sports, Group Show, Granada, Spain

2000             De-generated Poetry, Group Show, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA    

1998              Solo exhibit, Portraits on Metal, Aztec Cafe, Santa Fe, NM

                      Emerging photographers of the Southwest, Regional Juried Photography Competition                                        Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

CURATING

2023             There is Only After, Gallery MC, Manhattan, NYC 

2022             Parsons 25 E 13th Gallery Curator Fellowship, The New School, NYC

                      Everything Her You Saw Last Night, Group Show, 25 E 13th Gallery, (NYC), NY 

                      Trash, Sex, Money, 25 E 13th Gallery, (NYC), NY

2013              Love, Hydra Gallery. Albuquerque, NM

2012              Home, Hydra Gallery. Albuquerque, NM        

RESIDENCIES

2024             Italienska Palatset Residency, Vaxjo, Sweden (self directed) 

                      Ovtcharov Art Residency, Novo Selo, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (self directed) 

AWARDS

2022             Curatorial Fellow for 25 E13th Gallery, Parsons Fine Arts, The New School

2020             Covington Rhode Senior Prize Winner 

                      Winner of New Mexico Chapter of Bio Design Challenge (BDC)

2016              9th International Color Awards Nominee, Tracks, International (Online)

1998              2nd Place Winner, Emerging photographers of the Southwest, Regional Juried Photography                              Competition Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

PRESS

2020             KUNM University Showcase with Megan Kamerick, Brillo The Snail, Radio Interview

                      KRQE Local News, Brillo The Snail, Televised Interview

                      UNM Newsroom, Brillo The Snail, Print Interview

                      Daily Lobo (UNM University Paper), Brillo The Snail, Print Interview

ACTIVISM & VOLUNTEERING

2023             Co-founded Banned Book Club for Kids

2016              Babes and Bullies, Pitbull Rescue, Photographer

2012              Crossroads For Women, photo documentary, women in transition out of prison program,                                    Albuquerque, NM

2006-2010   Casa de Salud (formerly Topakahl Clinic), Medical Assistant, Volunteer Organizing and training,                        Grant Writing, Handbook Writing, Albuquerque, NM

2007             Agencia De Rap, Fundraising and equipment procurement, Volunteering, Training, Havana,                              Cuba

2006-2009  Hip Hop en Cuba, Fundraising, Party Planning, Materials Supplying, Havana,                                                        Cuba/Albuquerque, NM

2006-2008   Kalpulli Izkalli, Volunteering, Book Keeping, Organization of Volunteers, Albuquerque,

                       ABQ2Cuba, Volunteer Organizing, Materials and Supply Gathering, Fundraising, Party                                       Planning, Resistance and Protest Training, Albuquerque, NM

                       IFCO/Pastor for Peace, Organizing, Materials and Supply Gathering, Fundraising                                                 Volunteering, Albuquerque, NM/Cuba

PUBLICATION AS AUTHOR

2012             “Cuentame Ya- Experiences in Morocco During Arab Spring 2010-2011; the Protesting                                        Frontlines, Child Immigration, and an Exiled Candidate from the Democratic Republic of the                              Congo” Published online 2012, removed from online for revisions.  

bottom of page