Maurilio Tapia.

Working under the alias “StarStormTito”, I follow the flows of fashion and bridge inspiration from a variety of influences: hip-hop, the digital world and growing up as a Mexican-American. The combination of the three is pivotal in my daily life: The strong influence of hip-hop and its elements, the influence of United States and Mexican pop-culture and the experience of growing up as a first-generation Mexican-American. Within my work, the culmination and intersection between cultures serve as a catalyst in understanding heritage, individuality and lifestyle. By borrowing the pace in which fashion is developed, I aim to document the life and times of contemporary culture by creating a new style, or "Creando un nuevo estilo."

Mission

I strive to represent my culture in everything that I do, focusing on contradicting and manipulating traditional techniques by emphasizing texture, color and cultural iconography within my art. Being from an underrepresented community, working in the arts inspires me to continue using my practice for the enrichment of the cultures from which I stand.

Goals

• Creating a new, dynamic and maximalist style that represents and reinforces the intersection of cultures that lie within the American and Immigrant lifestyle.

• Complete fulfillment of self-expression, symbolic of the cultures that inspire this sense of fulfillment.

• Inspire immigrant families and children to reach and gain access into institutions such as museums, galleries and small businesses.

• Give back to various communities nationwide.