Born in El Salvador, Emiliana was just three months old when her family moved to Compton, CA. Due to safety concerns following the Rodney King riots and in search of a safer environment, they relocated to East Los Angeles, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood where gang violence was a constant threat. To keep Emiliana and her brother out of harm's way, her parents immersed them in music and art.
Growing up in the multicultural atmosphere of Los Angeles has had a profound impact on Emiliana's art. She is fascinated by the emotions and experiences that connect us all, regardless of cultural differences. By incorporating elements of mythology and unpredictability into her work, Emiliana transports viewers into a dream world where self-exploration and acceptance take center stage.
Emiliana's work focuses on the universal experiences of women of color, and she is not afraid to explore her own vulnerabilities in her pieces. Her art is inspired by modern figurative artists such as Odd Nerdrum, Jordan Casteel, and Lisa Yuskavage, as well as classical masters such as Rembrandt, Goya, and Paul Rubens. Her unique color palettes, featuring hues such as lime green and deep red, add to the emotional atmosphere of her pieces.
"Especially for artists of color, we’re starting to get a voice in the art world, we’re starting to be more acknowledged and have more placement in settings that maybe we didn’t have before.”