Philadelphia, PA · www.celloeye.com · celloeye@gmail.com · 267.234.4258
Multidisciplinary Artist — Painter · Printmaker · Cellist/Violinist · Composer/Songwriter · Educator
Highlights
Composer-performer and visual artist bridging Baroque-pop, queer mysticism, and Latin American aesthetics.
Lead artist for Sonetos de Amor Oscuro (album & concert program), interpreting Federico García Lorca’s sonnets; performed at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Journey Arts/Bartram’s Garden, and White Box Theater projects.
Director of Music Education & Community Relations at Esperanza/AMLA (2021–present), leading youth and community arts programs.
Education
BFA, Illustration, University of the Arts, Philadelphia — 2004
CAPA (Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts) — Visual Art & Cello, 2000
Selected Awards / Recognition
Juror Award Winner, William Way Center — Queer Pasts, Queer Futures Juried Exhibition (2025)
Featured Artist, 19th Annual Group Art Exhibition, William Way Center (2025)
Selected Performances (recent)
Table Sessions — Journey Arts @ Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia (Jan & Jun 2025)
Kea and the Ark — College of New Jersey, Don Evans Black Box Theatre (Mar 2025)
Kea and the Ark — Theater Exile, Philadelphia (Dec 2024)
Kea and the Ark — Delaware Contemporary (May 2024)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat — Wooly Mammoth Theatre, Washington DC (Jun 2024)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat — La Mama, NYC (Jan 2024)
Philadelphia Museum of Art Friday Lounge — Sonetos de Amor Oscuro (Oct 2023)
Barnes Foundation First Friday — Philadelphia (Oct 2022)
Discography (selected)
Sonetos de Amor Oscuro (2022)
Kyrie (2021)
The Third Climate (2018)
Virgen del Carmen (2016)
La Dolorosa (2016)
Music For Interior Castles (2011; Bandcamp re-release 2024)
Sonetos de Amor: Remixes (2025); Sonetos Oscuros: Remixes (2025)
Curriculum Vitae (extended)
Artist Statement
My work braids song, strings, and image to contemplate desire, sanctity, and the body. I draw on Latin American Baroque and Catholic iconographies, queer histories, and contemporary chamber-pop aesthetics to create performances, albums, and print/painted series that speak to transformation and resilience.
Professional Appointments
Esperanza/AMLA — Director of Music Education & Community Relations (2021–present)
Taller Puertorriqueño — Youth Artist Program Manager & Lead Instructor (2015–2021)
Taller Puertorriqueño — Curator/Visual Arts Manager, Lorenzo Homár Gallery (2005–2011)
Teaching Artist with Taller, AMLA, DELPHI Summer Teen Media Program, and Philadelphia Latino Film Festival.
Exhibitions (selected)
Queer Pasts, Queer Futures — William Way Center, Juried Exhibition, Philadelphia (Jan–Feb 2025)
19th Annual Group Art Exhibition — William Way Center, Philadelphia (2025)
Patrick McGrath Muñiz: Arcanas (Curator) — Taller Puertorriqueño (Sept–Oct 2023)
Native Icon/Biography — Higher Grounds Café, Philadelphia (2018)
Stonewall @ 50 — Drexel University Pearlstein Gallery, Philadelphia (2019)
Conversaciones con Manuel — Casa de Duende (2019)
Retrospective Exhibit — Galería Casa Cultura, Philadelphia (2016)
A Contemporary Madonna Counterpoint: Mexico and Puerto Rico — Taller Puertorriqueño (2014)
Interior Castles — Solo exhibition and performance, Bridge Set Sound, Philadelphia (2013)
Fantasía Bozal — Solo Exhibition, HACE Center, Philadelphia (2011)
Synesthesia — Painted Bride, Philadelphia (2009)
Dialogo 365 — Ice Box Gallery, Philadelphia (2009)
Music & Ensemble Experience
Kea and the Ark (White Box Theater, 2023–25) — Performer & Collaborator; College of New Jersey (2025), Theater Exile (2024), Delaware Contemporary (2024), John Michael Kohler Arts Center (2023)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat (Bearded Ladies Cabaret, 2022–24) — Collaborator, composer, arranger; performed at Wooly Mammoth (2024), La Mama NYC (2024), Cultural DC (2022)
Philadelphia Museum of Art Friday Lounge — Sonetos de Amor Oscuro (2023)
Barnes Foundation First Friday — Performer (2022)
LatinX Composers World Premiere — Astral Artists, Teatro Esperanza (Feb 2024)
Night of 1000 Kates — Philadelphia (2021–22)
World Café Live House Concert — Philadelphia (2021)
Rasputina (2008–2014) — Performer and arranger
TivaTiva (2006–2013) — Co-founder, vocalist, cellist, songwriter
Discography (expanded)
Sonetos de Amor Oscuro (2022)
Kyrie (2021)
The Third Climate (2018)
Virgen del Carmen (2016)
La Dolorosa (2016)
Music for Interior Castles (2011; re-released 2024)
Sonetos de Amor: Remixes (2025)
Sonetos Oscuros: Remixes (2025)
Media & Publications
Philadelphia Inquirer profile (2023)
Broad Street Review — Review of Journey Arts Table Sessions (2025)
VoyageOhio interview (2024)
Philadelphia Gay News feature (2017)
Presente Media short documentary & interview (2021)
Afrotaino.com interview (2021)
Appendix: Chronological Performance & Exhibition History
2025
Table Sessions: Sonetos de Amor Oscuro — Journey Arts/Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia (Jan & Jun)
Kea and the Ark — Don Evans Black Box Theatre, College of New Jersey (Mar)
Queer Pasts/Queer Futures — 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, William Way Center (Jan–Feb)
2024
Kea and the Ark — Theater Exile, Philadelphia (Dec)
Kea and the Ark — Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington (May)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat — Wooly Mammoth Theatre, Washington DC (Jun)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat — La Mama, NYC (Jan)
LatinX Composers World Premiere — Astral Artists, Teatro Esperanza, Philadelphia (Feb)
2023
Sonetos de Amor Oscuro — Philadelphia Museum of Art, Friday Lounge (Oct)
Patrick McGrath Muñiz: Arcanas (Curator) — Taller Puertorriqueño, Philadelphia (Sept–Oct)
Kea and the Ark — John Michael Kohler Arts Center Residency, Wisconsin (Oct)
2022
Barnes Foundation First Friday — Philadelphia (Oct)
Late Night Snacks (Fringe/Bearded Ladies) — Philadelphia (Sept)
Latin American Book Fair — Love Park, Philadelphia (Sept)
Sonetos de Amor Oscuro Album Premiere — Minton’s Playhouse, NYC (Sept)
Rubicam Summer Festival — Philadelphia (Jun)
AMLA Jazz Appreciation Month Concert — Teatro Esperanza, Philadelphia (Apr)
Rose: You Are Who You Eat — Cultural DC, Washington DC (Apr)
David Antonio Cruz: green,howiwantyougreen — Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco (Mar)
Night of 1000 Kates — Underground Arts, Philadelphia (Mar)
2021
Night of 1000 Kates — Philadelphia (Virtual, Mar)
World Café Live House Concert — Philadelphia (Apr)
Live at Minton’s Playhouse — NYC (Aug)
2020–Earlier (selected)
Interior Castles — Solo Exhibition & Performances (2012–2013)
Fantasía Bozal — Solo Exhibition, HACE Center, Philadelphia (2011)
Synesthesia — Painted Bride, Philadelphia (2009)
Dialogo 365 — Ice Box Gallery, Philadelphia (2009)
Hilo Dorado — PRFAA, Philadelphia (2006)
Messages of the Earth — PRFAA, Philadelphia (2005)
La Colectiva’s Noches de Arte — Centro de Oro District (2004–05)
TivaTiva — Performances & recordings (2006–2013)
Rasputina — Tours & arrangements (2008–2014)
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra/Young Artists Orchestra — Principal Cello (1998–2003)
Abington Symphony Orchestra (1998–2000)
Temple University Youth Orchestra (1994–1996)