Meet the Crew

Ellen Avigliano is an Artist, Illustrator, Photographer, & Designer based in New Jersey.

I am a disabled creator with multiple autoimmune conditions supporting myself with my artwork and creativity. I love dogs, fishkeeping, houseplants, and drinking coffee. I am on a mission to pet every dog and every cat that I meet, and so far it’s been a successful quest. I read a LOT of books and watch a LOT MORE movies. I am a self-proclaimed hula hoop champion*.

I believe in challenging societal norms, equality and justice for all, and smashing the patriarchy. I prefer not to “paint myself into a corner” when it comes to media, genre, or style; I prefer to dive deep and experiment with anything what brings me a sense of purpose and fulfillment, things which may allow me to connect to others in ways where words fail.

#MECFS #MillionsMissing #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #AutoImmune

*claim also backed by evidence because I once won a competition at age 10 at a local fair for who could hula hoop the longest without dropping it, and not only did I not drop it but I shimmied it up and down from my neck to my knees and back again to my waist, never once faltering.

Portrait of the artist, Ellen Avigliano, working at her desk with a mechanical pencil illustrating marine creatures. On the right, is a cup of paint brushes partially obscuring the portrait.

Bella Strange is a Service Dog in Training
and Professional Packaging Tester

I am a rescue dog from Your New Best Friend Dog Rescue in New Jersey. I was adopted on November 20th 2022, and have been amassing a gargantuan collection of new toys ever since. Next to my Puppy Parents, Tia Daisy, the Bichon, is my favorite creature in the whole wide world, and my first friend in the real world.

I am a part-time professional chewer, agent of chaos, and goblin princess, and full-time Service Dog in Training.

When I’m not training or shredding my family’s important paperwork or stealing my papa’s socks from the hamper, I enjoy rigorously testing all of mama’s packaging materials. You can rest assured that my mama really does choose only the most durable ones! I should know, because I have chewed them all and tested them for quality assurance purposes!

About My Creative Philosophy and Process

In previous years, employing a brilliant, over-saturated, retro inspired, rainbow aesthetic was my way of expressing my vision for a more positive, united world. Much of my previous work was also heavily influenced by Pop Art, Street and Graffiti Art, Psychedelic Art, and media such as Cartooning, Film, and Theatre. I have an affinity towards vintage and retro style. This artwork featured geometric patterns, bold line work, and rich color palettes.

However, things have changed. This world has changed. People have changed. The whole world is experiencing a shift, and now is the time to embrace it if we are to preserve any semblance of a future worth living…

Starting in 2025, I’m pivoting my work to reflect the changing political climate as well as the rapidly changing natural environment around us.

The work is now trending to a more feral, emotional energy as I fully embrace this intense, wild anger towards the injustices of humanity, and a longing for connection to our roots in nature, a feeling of fighting against a world whose current focus trends towards transience and commodification of human beings, a desire to slow down and melt into the dirt and become one with the moss, rising once again from the muck as a towering pillar of the forest.

I wish to create a new catalogue of work that inspires people to reach deep down into their psyche, unleash their raw emotions, and find the value in true connection. There’s nothing wrong with getting dirt on your hands as we plant the seeds to revolutionize thoughts, bring connection to one another and find purpose within intentional community. It’s time to slow things down, to stop and look around, to appreciate the small things in life we take for granted. We must pause and remember that there’s a whole world outside, full of plants, creatures, and elements we once existed with in harmony.

We need to find the humanity behind our technology, remember that it is meant to be a tool to augment our abilities not a replacement for creativity. We need to slow down and resist the urge to lose ourselves to algorithms and instead: Read more books and share with others; Create more things with our hands; Cook more food and partake in community meals; Cultivate more plants and bring the earth back to what it should be. We must continue to explore, educate, and enjoy the things around us — our existence as wild beings in a world which seeks to tame and control is in itself, an act of political resistance.

Common themes throughout my body of work will of course remain focused on modern cultural issues such as intersectional feminism, mental health, disability, LGBTQ+ rights, diversity, identity, sexuality, gender roles, appreciation for nature, interconnectivity of all living things, etc. I truly do believe that concentrating on the core values of inclusion, connection, and empathy are vital to saving humanity and preserving our beautiful planet.

It is my hope that by participating in this “Rewilding” of sorts, that I may continue to push the envelope, transcend communication barriers, and bring a spark of fierceness and message of hope to future generations.

A rectangular taklon paint brush with teal handle, acrylic paint and watercolor soaked paper towel creating a tie-dye backdrop. Vibrant, candy colored hues.

Art to Feed Your Head