Through painting, I use materiality to describe the material world. By rooting my practice in visual culture and art history, I seek to extend the meaning of images beyond their initial form. The coalescing of opposing and complimentary formal elements accentuate the visual and contextual friction. This allows the work to exist in an ambiguous state. Seen together, my works appear disparate, but they suggest alternative meanings through association with one another. The works can exist on their own, but engage in dialogue when juxtaposed against each other. Although about specific occurrences, the works afford the viewer their own interpretations.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas Campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Photograph of sculptures on view as part of the Graduate Students' Sculpture Exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery in the Art Building on the University of North Texas campus in December of 2012.

Shift style dress of 90% cashmere/10% silk blend knit in "Mariposa" butterfly pattern of black and white, pink, lime green, violet, purple, orange, blue and blue-green floral floral checkerboard and border print. "Emilio" signature in print.

Maxi dress of silk jersey in print design in blue, pink, purple, green, orange, black and white with "Emilio" signature in print.