By Nicole D’settēmi
Miguel Aviles sits in his tiny studio apartment lost in the woodlands of upstate New York; a place he has relocated to for some tranquility, he admits. He has been designing the space into his own 
personal art studio, and smiles reflectively as he tells me; “Miguel Angel, it means Michael Angelo in English.
My mother always knew I’d be an artist.” Miguel who is a Brooklynite, born and raised in the mean streets of Bedford Stuyvesant, long before it’s “gentrification” shares still smiling, but this time more wearily as he explains; “escapism,” was the purpose for engaging in art as a little boy. “I’ve been drawing all my life, like I said, my mother always saw the artistic abilities in me.” He pauses for a moment, and then continues; “I’ve always loved the ability to create my own world…growing up in bed-stuy, it was a real blessing to be able to escape into my own world…it was almost magical to me…jumping in and out of my minds inventions.” He smiles one more time and adds: “everyone should try it.”
Looking through Miguel’s sketch-art there is a distinct and constant theme; pain. And, as he puts it; “redemption.” Angels, demons, broken souls are all evident. Speared lords, men on their knees crying, faces that are twisted, contorted, distorted. It’s obvious that he uses his ability to draw to be able to process and dispose of pain.
When I ask Miguel what his favorite subject is to draw, he answers “fantasy.” He adds: “I can draw whatever I want, sometimes I put myself into the drawings…king of my own domain. You can’t beat that.”
Like every single true creative I’ve ever met, Miguel too likes to engage in other forms of art, proving he is at heart a creative soul. He’s dabbled in sculpting, photography, and has always tossed around the idea of studying filmmaking. When I questioned Miguel about his feelings regarding art and it’s impact on individual people, as well as society as a whole, he responded; “I love how art makes people their own emotional BEing. It opens up their imaginations, their fears, desires…the list goes on. “There’s not enough art in this world, I truly believe this world would be a far calmer place if everyone pulled from themselves their artistic person.”
Miguel is persistent with his belief that we all have an artist within. He comes from a class of believers that preach art is not a gift exclusive to a certain group of people (“the artist”), but rather an extension of the imagination pulled from within and delivered to the world, with us ALL born with an ability to do so.
My final question for Mr. Aviles was: what can we expect from you in the future, artistically speaking? He happily explained to me that “anything goes,” and said; “I took a break from art for a period of time, to fulfill other duties life had thrown my way, but I feel it is time to start again. I want to get back into sculpting first. I love the idea of bringing my art to life in a way that seems so complete.” He adds: “I don’t have a favorite genre of art, I like trying many types and styles, but I have to admit as a child I adored using water paints.”
I now smile to myself picturing a tiny Michael Angelo with a set of water paints, at a tattered table, in old Bed-Stuy, New York. Somebody once said: nobody becomes as artist unless they have to, and for Mr. Aviles I believe this quote is 100% applicable.
To see more of Miguel’s art work, and/or to purchase authentic pieces as well as prints, visit www.artpal.com/lacasadeseviles.