Teonta Aviles is a visual artist, educator, and MFA candidate at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Born in West Philadelphia, PA, she currently lives and works in Northern Virginia, where she teaches secondary visual arts.

Aviles earned two undergraduate degrees; a Bachelor of Science in Education in Art Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Art, from Millersville University. Her artistic practice explores themes of Black life, identity through memory, loss/grief, and lived experience, often examining the intersections of personal and collective narratives.

Her work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions, with recent shows reflecting an expanded focus on contemporary Black realities and identity-based inquiry. Alongside her studio practice, Aviles is committed to arts education and mentorship, centering creative expression as both a personal and communal tool for reflection and empowerment.

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Notes from the artist:

My primary objectives in my studio practice are to shift narratives surrounding social identity and to diversify the art spaces in which my work is shown. The subject matter highlights themes of racial and gender identity. Through my art, I aim to authentically represent the experiences of Black life and move away from society’s longstanding misrepresentations.

My ethnic genealogy is a union of African American and Latino/a heritage. Growing up in low SES, diverse urban neighborhoods and later entering predominantly white spaces compelled me to represent my identity within art and education. I create the art I do not often see in my daily life away from home. Black life and Black lives will always be celebrated in my work. These compositions bring diversity into my space and serve as a means of self-definition and affirmation.