Biography
Emilio Maldonado was born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic - "a city situated in the sun's trajectory" (Pedro Mir). A first-generation college graduate and father, he holds degrees from Altos de Chavón (AAS, 2007), Escuela de Artes Plásticas (BFA, 2011), and the Savannah College of Art and Design (MFA, 2013).
After relocating to Philadelphia in 2017, Maldonado co-founded the "Philly Group Crit" to engage the local arts community. In 2021, he received the Mural Arts Fellowship for Black Artists, which enabled him to establish his first dedicated studio and expand his practice.
Maldonado has been a Professor since 2014 and has held roles as Artist Relations Director at Mural Arts (2022-2025) and member Gallerist for Tiger Strikes Asteroid. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, with support from the Fleischer Art Memorial Wind Challenge and the City of Philadelphia Illuminate the Arts Grant.
He has completed residencies at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Elsewhere Museum, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, and the Fitler Club. Maldonado lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.
Solo Exhibitions
2026
The Wind Challenge II, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2015
Hyperbolic-Semiotics under Third World Standards, Waldron Gallery, Bloomington, IN
2013
Garage Sale, FAHM Gallery, Savannah, GA
Select Exhibitions / Group shows
2024
Heatwave, Atelier Fine Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
15 Years, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Los Angeles, CA
Dolls, Idols, and Ideals, Inliquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Art at the Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
2023
Art NOW America: National Juried Art Exhibition, Slocumb Galleries at ETSU, Johnson City, TN
Where You Left Off, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Philadelphia, PA
2022
Tiger Strikes Satellite, Satellite Art Show, Miami, FL
PUBLIC•PRIVATE, Commonweal Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Woodmere Annual: 80th Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
New Now V, Inliquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Mural Arts Fellows at the Fitler, Fitler Club, Philadelphia, PA
The Mutability of Time, Schau Fenster, Berlin, Germany
2021
The Tight Rope, Automat, Philadelphia, PA
I’m so glad I’m just like you, Brick + Mortar Gallery, Easton, PA
Distortion, Bean2Bean, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists, Rush Arts, Philadelphia, PA
American in Provence, Gallerie D Gordes, Apt, Fr
PSSST, Wilma W. Daniels Gallery, Wilmington, NC
Summerhouse, Hot • Bed Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Movement + Space, Dana Wiley Gallery, Dayton, OH
12x12x12, The Art Trust Gallery, West Chester, PA
2020
Us: What divides us and what unites us?, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC
Sanctuary, Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, NJ
Figure in Art, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Once upon a time on July 25, Puerto Rican Art Center, Camden, NJ
Concrete and Adrift, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Faculty Triennial, Moore Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Mixed Media, Site: Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
Spring Stroll, Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Politics of Exchange, Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2017
Philly Fashion Week, Philadelphia, PA
Punto de Encuentro, Capitol Building, San Juan, PR
Politics of Exchange, Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Saint Louis, MO
2016
The Factory Fashion Show, Saint Louis Fashion Week, Saint Louis, MO
2014
Expanding Mode, Concepto Hudson, Hudson, NY
33March, Old Orchard Gallery, St Louis, MO
Trash to Art, KOKEN Art Factory, Saint Louis, MO
2013
27th Santo Domingo Visual Arts Biennial, Modern Arts Museum, Santo Domingo, DR
Mixed Mediacy, Non Fiction Gallery, Savannah, GA
Secac Members Show, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC
2012
Collected: Here and Them, Non Fiction Gallery, Savannah, GA
It’s a small, small world, Family Business Project Space, New York, NY
2011
The new kids in the block, 787 Studios, Santurce, PR
Be Brave, Gómez Hermanos Foundation, San Juan, PR
2010
Santurce es Ley II, Santurce, PR
Santurce es Ley I, Santurce, PR
Triennial Elite-Tile, Modern Art Museum, Santo Domingo, DR
Pintura expandida, Madhouse Gallery, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de PR, San Juan, PR
2009
Annual Exhibition, Madhouse Gallery, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de PR, San Juan, PR
2007
Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Madhouse Gallery, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de PR, San Juan, PR
Residencies
2023
Fitler AIR: Collection 3.0, Fitler Club, Philadelphia, PA
2022
CFEVA Fellowship, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
2021
Mural Arts Black Artist Fellowship, MAP, Philadelphia, PA
2020
TSA AIR Fellowship, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Philadelphia, PA
2018
1 Day Piece Activation, Elsewhere Living Museum, Greensboro, NC
2014
Elsewhere Residency, Elsewhere Living Museum, Greensboro, NC
Artist talks
2023
NYC Group Crit, Box Factory Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2021
Eat, drink and Be Artsy, The Art Trust Gallery, Virtual
After the Exhibition, Touchstone Gallery, Virtual
2020
Drawing in Professional Practice, SCAD, Savannah, GA
The Importance of the Body in Art, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Art and the Real, Escuela de Artes Plásticas, San Juan, PR
2018
NYC Group Crit, Brooklyn, NY
Publications & Media
Jason, Natalie," Artist Emilio Maldonado uses personal reflection and found objects for unique creations," 6abc Philadelphia (WPVI-TV), October 8, 2025
Brokenbough Jr., Aaron, "Emilio Maldonado: The Seeker's Craft," The Philly Download, April 9, 2025
"Black History Month Showcase 2025 at Hyatt Centric Center City," Dosage Magazine, January 2025
Bernten, Danelle, "The Magic Touch: Material Metamorphoses of Kimberly Camp and Emilio Maldonado," InLiquid Online Magazine, June 14, 2024
"Artist Spotlight: Emilio Maldonado", AFROTAINO, August 1, 2024
"Dolls, Idols, and Ideals," The Philadelphia Sunday Sun, February 10, 2024
Crimmins, Peter, "How the next mayor could help artists live and work in Philly," WHYY, November 8, 2023
Lee, Rob, "Art & Identity: Emilio Maldonado's Creative Path" (podcast), The Truth In This Art, n.d., 2023
Toussaint, Jensen, "Adding more vibrancy to Philly's artistic identity," Al Dia News, April 14, 2022
"Artists in the Time of Coronavirus, Part 48," Artblog (theartblog.org), July 2020
"Moore College of Art and Design Faculty Show," Broad Street Review, 2019
Creativ Magazine, Creativpaper (April 2017 issue)
"Garage Sale," SCAD Exhibitions, Savannah, GA
Studio Visit Magazine, Volume Twenty-Four, 2013
acento.com.do, Online Diary, 2013
"27th MAM Biennial Catalog," Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2013
Dominicana en Miami (online magazine), 2013
Primera Hora Diary, January 23, 2009