Bio
Emilio Monahan is a figurative landscape painter from Washington State. Raised on the Pacific Northwest Coastline, he continuously took in mountain and sea-scapes when finding moments of reflection and solace. Those experiences instilled a deep appreciation for nature and continues to fuel Emilio’s desire to create his own imaginative environment in his artwork. After earning his BA from the University of Washington in 2022, Emilio moved to California to expand his art practice. There, he joined the Los Angeles Civic Engagement Team, leading service projects that resulted in large mural beautification across the Los Angeles School District. Emilio is now pursuing an MFA in Painting at Laguna College of Art and Design.
Statement
Working primarily in oil on canvas and wood panel, I explore my identity through painting coastal dreamscapes. I often reference mermaid symbolism with hybrid fluidity to narrate my experiences of navigating conformity. My paintings depict two vastly different worlds, solid land and the deep sea, and how these realms collide, coexist, and inform one another. My artwork centers around self-discovery, revealing a comfortable sense of queer individuality. Being an artist has given me a lifelong purpose allowing my inner world to exist openly, providing myself with clarity and communion with those who find solace in my art.
Education
MFA, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach CA - Current
BFA, The University of Washington, Seattle WA - 2022
CV
2026
Undercurrents, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2022
Graduation Exhibition, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle Washington