Yamilka Portorreal (she/they) is a multimedia artist born and partially raised in Dominican Republic [DR] and is currently based in Ithaca, NY. At ten years old, they emigrated to New York City in the search for a better life. Being stripped away from their extended family has caused them to rekindle their childhood by capturing elements of their fragmented upbringing. Their quiet but critical observance of the world, and incessant love for artmaking synthesize in fine art and photography. Through photography, Yamilka explores themes of nostalgia, family, poverty, violence, gentrification, resilience, beauty, abandonment, and reclamation. In addition, their fine art explores the beauty of life through figure drawings, portraits, doodles & still lives.

Their Bachelor of Arts in Urban Sustainability and minor in Environmental Science has provided the foundation for the exploration of dynamic and intersectional social, economic, and environmental issues.

Artist Statement

My artistic practice is multifaceted and multimedia. My photography features 35mm and 120mm film, as well as digital photography. Through it, I captured important elements that weaved my childhood in the Dominican Republic, including crops/fruits, animals, people, and patterns that were prominent to my family. Another facet of my work is playful and experimental. I captured family members and friends, during special events and the everyday to the express my appreciation for them. My work features The Bronx, a poverty-stricken NYC borough, inviting viewers to overlook the stigmas, and instead admire its beauty and its people. It also features natural wonders such as the resistance of trees to political boundaries, as well as nature reclaiming abandoned and obsolete structures.

My fine art practice is fueled by my curiosity and profound admiration for the beauty of life. My work is a journey into the fascinating dynamics of biology, with a particular focus on the human body and the plant world. My artistic endeavors spans a diverse range of subjects, including figure drawings, botanical studies, bird studies, still life compositions, and portraits. I use a diverse drawing mediums, such as graphite, color pencils, charcoal, and pen and ink to depict form, value, and texture. Additionally, my artistic capabilities extend to painting, particularly in watercolor, acrylic, and oil to interpret the vibrant essence of life. Central to my creative process is the incorporation of elements drawn from my native country. Each element carries the weight of personal narratives, adding to the nuance of my artistic expression. These elements are a vessels for me to channel nostalgia, and recapture a dormant memory.

Through my art, I invite viewers to join me on a visual journey where the beauty of life, culture, and memories converge. I hope that my work sparks appreciation for the beauty of everyday life.

Resume ✤

Education

City University of New York Brooklyn College Spring 2021 Bachelor of Arts in Urban Sustainability, concentration and minor in Environmental Science

Art Course-Work

Bronx Documentary Center, Open Darkroom Hours 09/2021 - July 2022

Art Student League, Figure Drawing with Garin Baker Spring 2022 - Summer 2022

Strudel Media, Adventures in Still Life 10/2023 - 12/2023

Professional Experience

Tompkins County Public Library, Library Page, Ithaca, NY 3/2024 - Present

Freelance Artist 10/2023 - Present

Cornell University, Research Technician, Ithaca, NY 08/2022 - 09/2023

Natural Areas Conservancy, CUNY Intern, The Bronx, NY 05/2022 - 07/2022

Kelly Street Community Garden, Volunteer/Garden Assistant, The Bronx, NY 08/2022 - 07/2022

Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay [SRIJB], Intern, remote 07/2022 - 07/2021

Natural Areas Conservancy, Conservancy Corps Fellow, The Bronx, NY 06/2020 - 09/2020

Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture, Library Page, New York, NY 12/2018 - 06/2020

Selected Work for Exhibition

2023: Photoville Public Art Exhibition, Beauty in Being, The Bronx, NY 08/2023

Publications

2024: Until We’re Seen: Autoethnographies of a Pandemic by Students at it’s Epicenters Chapter 4: Beloved — But forced to live and die in the shadows Soon-to-be-published

Awards

Community Arts Partnership - Artist in Community Grant 2024

Community Arts Partnership - Strategic Opportunity Stipend 2024