Presenters

Emilio is a mixed transdisciplinary artist, maker, designer, musician, producer and sound engineer who was born in New Westminster, B.C. Emilio started playing drums in 1995 at the age of 13. In 2000, he started experimenting in electronic music, and over the past 20 years, he has performed live and in a studio context with numerous musicians throughout Canada. His musical focus is rooted in Latin and Andean music, jazz, hip hop, improvisation, electroacoustic music and experimental sound art.

Since 2008, through Portal Studio, he has completed numerous commissions for clients as a designer, carpenter and furniture-maker.  

In 2011, Emilio and Elyse Portal started making art together. Their performances, installations and multimedia works address historic and contemporary ecological and spiritual issues. 

Emilio has exhibited throughout Canada and worked with a multitude of artists and curators. He holds a BFA from Laurentian University, a BA in Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) from Dalhousie University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria.