I create art because some stories are never meant to stay invisible.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
My favorite type of art to create gravitates toward creating paper manipulation, mixed media, and sculptures using non-conventional materials, layering, cutting, and assembling to explore fragility, identity, and transformation while also creating manipulated photography and conceptual work that captures real moments with emotional, sometimes surreal depth.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in everyday life—queer identity, HIV narratives, faith spaces, migration, and the quiet, often overlooked moments that carry truth and tension.
What would you do with $25,000?If I were to receive the $25,000, I would invest it in expanding my project Under My Skin, strengthening its reach at the intersection of art, HIV awareness, and community engagement. The funds would support new work, collaborations, and opportunities to bring these conversations into spaces where they are often missing.
Vote for Emilio Apontesierra to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
