Emilio Apontesierra-Paretti is a Colombian American multidisciplinary artist born in Valledupar in 1968 he moved to South Florida in 2002 seeking political asylum. He is an experimenter of the arts with a mixture of influences who holds a master’s degree in education in Guidance Counseling. His visual body of work is created using Manipulated Photography, Ink on canvas, and Mixed Media. He creates sculptures and tridimensional art pieces on canvas, Plexiglas, framed boxes, and diverse flat surfaces using his Paper Manipulation Fine Art Technique, found objects, and non-conventional materials.   

Apontesierra’s creations are influenced by more than 30 years of background in Scene & Theater Production and Costume Design. Also, by the vibrancy of his country of origin, and the color of the fashion world. He uses art for community mobilization towards social issues, health promotion, and environmental protection. He had participated in several group and solo exhibitions across the USA and Colombia. Since 2012 his body of work had been concentrated using his paper manipulation technique where he mixes Origami, Paper mâché, and Paper Sculpture with fiber manipulation and fashion design techniques. COVIDA is his first Public Art piece commissioned by the city of West Palm Beach, FL in 2020 when he was selected as one of the 15 artists in palm beach County for the Commons project: 15 artists, 15 Spaces.  

His role in addressing HIV as an artist has been influential, not just in South Florida, but nationwide, to educate the community at large regarding the Issue of HIV Prevention and Care, HIV Stigma, HIV decriminalization, and social determinants of health. At the same time, his Art projects, poetry, public speaking, and journalism have reached individuals from high-risk populations such as African Americans, Latinx, and members of the LGBTQ community especially persons with transgender experiences, gays, bisexuals, and MSM regardless of race, country of origin, or faith or religious beliefs.  

In 2017 Apontesierra was named by the Sun-Sentinel as one of its 15 Latin heroes for his work using art as a tool for community mobilization towards health promotion and HIV prevention. He has been featured in national HIV prevention campaigns such as “Start Talking. Stop HIV,” by the Center of Diseases Control and Prevention, CDC, and in “My Favorite Poem,” by Boston University and the Library of Congress. It compiles documentary videos of American citizens talking about the importance of poetry in their lives, this project is part of the Library of Congress’ permanent archive of poetry and recorded literature. And 2021 The Luxury Upscale Living Magazine named Apontesierra as one of the five of Florida’s most interesting, and best, artistic talents and 2023 is the Winner of the Category of Visual Art of the HIV Is Not a Crime Training Academy 5 Art Contest by The Sero Project.  

You can ready a more complete story of Apontesierra here: http://voyagemia.com/interview/check-out-emilio-apontesierraparettis-story/