• emilio portal is a versatile transdisciplinary sound and visual artist. his practice, spanning sound, image, installation and woodworking, is a continuous indeterminate performance with discarded, intuitive, and random phenomena.

    in a sonic rebellion against conventional hooks and oppressive methodologies, portal sees sound not as something manipulable but as an entity itself. his musical journey started as a drummer in 1995 at the age of 13; he delved into electronic music experimentation in 2000. over the past two decades, portal has significantly contributed as a live and studio musician, producer, composer, engineer and mentor, collaborating with an array of artists.

    portal's sonic palette is enriched by influences ranging from latin, amazonian, andean music to african rhythms, jazz, hip hop, ambient, improvisation, indeterminacy, electroacoustic music, experimental sound art, anarchic principles, and a commitment to decolonization in art and sound.

    in 2011, the collaboration with elyse portal under the moniker 'ee portal' commenced, exploring performances, installations, and multimedia works that address both historical and contemporary ecological and spiritual issues. their creative process is rooted in collaboration, negotiation, and agreement, with emilio scoring more than eight ee portal films.

    the year 2020 marked the formation of the collective 'distance between us', alongside elyse portal, tara, and clayton windatt. their collective works have been shown at l'écart, durham art gallery, faas 7, and the fabulous festival of fringe film.

    emilio portal's artistic presence extends across canada, with exhibitions at open space, grunt gallery, la galerie du nouvel-ontario, l'écart, darc, fabulous festival of fringe film, on the edge, up here, and debaser. his collaborations involve notable artists and curators such as rebecca belmore, peter morin, clayton and tara windatt, jessica karuhanga, golboo amani, anthony almendarez, lindsay katsitsakatste delaronde, chloe laduchesse, michel laforge, and elyse portal.

    since 2008, through portal studio, he has fulfilled numerous commissions as a designer, carpenter, and furniture-maker for clients in british columbia and ontario. emilio holds a bfa in fine art from laurentian university, a bachelor of environmental design studies (architecture) from dalhousie university, a permaculture design certificate, a natural building passport from o.u.r. ecovillage, and an mfa from the university of victoria. since 2016, he has held the position of fabrication lab technologist at laurentian university's mcewen school of architecture.

  • i make intense, vulnerable, meditative and quirky interdisciplinary work that focuses our attention on the foundations of our accepted ways of living;

    i focus on ethics and the nature of reality itself: all entities - human, nonhuman, animate, inanimate - inherently and innately are valuable;

    i revere objects/sounds/concepts that are seen as trash and detritus (in all its various meanings);

    i honour tree’s flesh (wood) with a meticulous and ritual approach;

    i seek solutions to the built environment that plague the world with pollution, suffocating emissions and colonial ideologies;

    i play, explore, intuit, improvise and randomize field recordings, synthesizers and rhythms;

    i am continuously guided by my own complex mixed heritage, which is intrinsically connected to the current ecological crisis and the ongoing destruction of countless ecosystems, which has imbued me with a deep sense of awe, concern and responsibility; 

    i aim to dismantle the colonial, racist and anthropocentric paradigm.

  • 2011 Master of Fine Arts. University of Victoria, BC
    2008 Natural Building Internship. O.U.R. Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake, BC
    2008 Permaculture Design Certificate. Shawnigan Lake, BC
    2007 Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
    2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours. Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON

  • 2023 Ontario Arts Council: Northern Arts Grant: magnetism

    2023 Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance: art - environment - life - everything

    2022 Ontario Arts Council: Northern Arts Grant: eau benite

    2022 Canada Council for the Arts: Explore & Create Professional Development Grant (music production & sound engineering)

    2022 Canada Council for the Arts: Explore & Creation Grant (mnemonics for the commons, ee portal)

    2021 Ontario Arts Council: Music Recording Project: Kladon Stellaris

    2017 Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance: three ways of working with plants

    2015 Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance: self-deception

    2015 Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance: (re)member of water 

    2011 University of Victoria Graduate Fellowship 

    2010 University of Victoria Graduate Fellowship 

    2007 Graduating Portfolio Award. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 

    2006 Medjuck Architectural Design Scholarship. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

  • 2024 nuit blanche: msoa: performance with blank hands, michel laforge & ee portal

    2024 magnestism (album)

    2024 nomadic (album)

    2023 sturgeon woman rising (soundtrack composition for lindsay delaronde)

    2023 spiritual dispatchers (collaboration with max moon, album)

    2023 eau bénite (album)

    2023 debaser: drone day: performance

    2023 135 minutes (collaboration with shane cinq-mars, album)

    2023 85 minutes (collaboration with patrick harrop, album)

    2023 dinosaur juice (collaboration with michel laforge, album)

    2023 banff sessions volumes 1, 2 & 3 (albums)

    2022 red lake gold (album)

    2022 a compendium of rhythm & chance (album)

    2022 debaser: pique fall edition: performance

    2022 up here 8: performance

    2022 la nuit emergente: la slague (8th annual festival): video + quadraphonic audio installation

    2022 concentrated play (single)

    2022 mud spectre (album)

    2021 blue as the insides (extended play single/soundtrack for artist Jessica Karuhanga). Composition, producer, recording, mixing & mastering.

    2021 you feel me (album/soundtrack for artist Jessica Karuhanga). Co-composition, producer, recording, mixing & mastering.

    2021 Praxis (2021) (album)

    2021 Make Space (single)

    2021 Bas Vol.2 (album)

    2021 Randomness is not Chaos (single)

    2021 Meditations Vol.1 (album)

    2021 Kladon Stellaris (album)

    2021 non-ordinary states (single)

    2021 some mysterious unknown sublime dust (single)

    2021 move like 433 eros (single)

    2021 unlearn (album)

    2021 Snowdream (album)

    2021 Chulluku Pacha (album)

    2021 Ecognosis (album)

    2020 Walking Into The Source (single)

    2020 Being Comfortable With Sensing Leaning Into & Embracing Difference (single)

    2020 Bas (album)

    2020 Gryllinae (album)

    2020 Crunch (album)

    2020 She Is Awakening 2 - featuring Kiyan Lautenschlager, Darlene, Polly Kultur, Daniel Aubin, Sparx, Antoine Tremble-Beaulieu & Will Morin: composition, producer, recording, mixing & mastering. Myths & Mirrors.

    2020 She Is Awakening: composition, producer, mixing & mastering. Myths & Mirrors.

    2019 Antoine Tremble-Beaulieu & Chloe LaDuchesse: drums, percussion, programming & composing. Projet Manifeste pour La Place des Arts. Sudbury, ON

    2017-19 MOOZNA: drums, percussion, programming & composing. 

    2017-19 Julien Cote: drums, percussion & composing. Live & recording. 

    2017-18 Falls Around Her film by Darlene Naponse: drums & percussion personnel on film soundtrack. Co-composed with Julian Cote. Recording Engineer, Julian Cote. Recorded at Pine Needle  Productions, Atikameksheng Anishinaabek

    2013-14 Blue Paradox: drummer & percussionist. USA/Mexico

    2009 Wontanara: West-African drum & dance troupe. Victoria, BC

    2006 Diga: drummer. Yellowknife, NWT

    2006 Crazy Legs Dance Company: percussionist. Yellowknife, NWT 

    2005 Earthdancers: percussionist & composer. Sudbury, ON

  • 2023 walking on a well-worn path can be done repeatedly but never repeated. Between Pheasants Contemporary. New Liskeard, ON

    2017 the discarded collected. MSoA Nuit Blanche. Sudbury, ON

    2015 Snowlog. YARCC/Snowcastle. Yellowknife, NWT

    2012 Qiqayt, 1982. Grunt Gallery. Vancouver, BC

    2012 islands. curated by peter morin. Open Space. Victoria, BC

    2011 Quchamama. Ministry of Casual Living. Victoria, BC

    2011 slag. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario. Sudbury, ON

    2010 to honour the spirit of this forest. Xchanges Art Gallery. Victoria, BC

    2007 path. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario. Sudbury, ON

  • 2023 on the edge fringe festival. North Bay, Ontario

    2023 saugeen/zaagiing. distance between us. fabulous festival of fringe film, Durham, Ontario

    2023 art - environment - life - everything. distance between us. Durham Art Gallery

    2023 offerings of care. distance between us. FAAS 7

    2022 debaser: pique fall edition. Ottawa, Ontario

    2022 up here 8. Sudbury, Ontario

    2022 on the edge fringe festival. North Bay, Ontario

    2022 fabulous festival of fringe film. Durham, Ontario

    2021 blueberry entanglement. Myths & Mirrors. Sudbury, Ontario

    2020 distance between us (with Tara & Clayton Windatt). Ecart Art Actuel. Rouyn-Noranda, QC

    2019 plant goddesses climate crisis nonhuman solidarity. Burren College of Art. Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland

    2019 hyperobjects / claybank. MSoA Nuit Blanche. Sudbury, ON

    2018 stars pour through (volume 2). MSoA Nuit Blanche. Sudbury, ON

    2017 stars pour through. 7a*md8 live-stream event. 7a*11d Toronto Performance Art Collective. Toronto, ON

    2017 three ways of working with plants. Dualities Festival, WKP Kennedy Gallery. curated by Clayton Windatt. North Bay, ON

    2016 Handmade fire. Garden Skool, SAVAC, Toronto, ON

    2015 (re)member of water. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario. Sudbury, ON

    2015 micro-habitat/self-deception. Supernova. Burlington, ON

    2013 who is this land am i. University of Toronto, ON

    2013 friction. University of Toronto, ON

    2011 arms. Moses and Mary’s Sculpture Garden, Victoria, BC

    2011 advanced life support unit. Upstairs Gallery, Victoria, BC

  • 2023 projet: son, la galerie du nouvel-ontario, sudbury, on

    2022 is this real, The Art Gallery of Sudbury, Sudbury, ON

    2021 In Space Grey, DARC. Online

    2015 Craftmart, Hamilton Arts Inc. Hamilton, ON

    2014 Craftmart, Hamilton Arts Inc. Hamilton, ON

    2015 self-deception. Supernova. Burlington, ON

    2014 contemplation on coffee & slag. FAAS 4. Sudbury, ON

    2011 burnt stack & shells. Moses and Mary’s Sculpture Garden,  Victoria, BC

    2011 eviction. University of Victoria, BC

    2010 snapshot. Audain Gallery. Victoria, BC

    2009 raw. Deluge Art Gallery. Victoria, BC

    2002 The Water mural w/ Myths & Mirrors. Sudbury, ON

    2001 The Sudbury Respect youth mural w/ Myths & Mirrors. Sudbury, ON

  • 2022 The Weapon of Theory as a Conference of Birds. The Banff Centre. Banff, AB

    2022 Play Smelter Artist in Residence. Pat the dog theatre creation, Sudbury, ON

    2019 Burren College of Art (ee portal). Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland

    2005 White Mountain Academy (printmaking). Elliot Lake, ON

    2003 Parallax: 540 (design & sculpture). St. Boniface, MB

  • 2016-23  Fabrication Lab Technologist. McEwen School of Architecture,  Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON 

    2008-23  Principal. Portal Studio: design & fabrication of objects,  furniture, installations & architecture. Victoria, BC /  Toronto, ON 

    2020 Sudbury 2050 Urban Design Ideas Competition: Finalist. Mashkikike. Co-designer for community project with Naomi Grant (Coalition for a Livable Sudbury), Matthew Hunter (co-designer), Elyse Portal (artist), William Morin (Indigenous Artist & Teacher), Miranda Virtanen (Junction Creek Stewardship Committee), Cora-Rae Silk (Myths & Mirrors), Simon Blakeley (rethink green), Camille Tremblay Beaulieu (artist/scientist), Jayden Daoust (artist)

    2008-15  Carpenter. Portal & Sheerin Carpentry, Victoria, BC

    2013  Exhibition assistant, consultant, designer & fabrication of installation: private perimeter - Rebecca Belmore. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury, ON  

    2013  Design & fabrication of exhibition millwork in black walnut: who is this land am i – Elyse Portal. Toronto, ON 

    2013  Design & fabrication: Reveler's Revolt Reframed - Jessica Patricia Kichoncho Karuhanga. OCAD, Toronto, ON 

    2011  Carpenter. Metro Can Construction, Victoria, BC 

    2010  Carpenter. J Contracting, Victoria, BC 

    2010  Carpenter. Carpentry SB, Victoria, BC 

    2008  Rammed Earth Wall Crew Member for the First Peoples House,  University of Victoria. Earthen homes/Gryphon construction, Victoria, BC 

    2008-09  Architectural Designer. Landeca, Victoria, BC 

    2008  Natural Builder: O.U.R. Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake, BC 

    2007-08  Intern Architect. Nadji Architects. Yellowknife, NWT 

    2006  Design-Build crew member for Cheticamp, NS summer camp dorms.  Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 

    2006  Architectural Assistant. Pin Taylor Architects. Yellowknife,  NWT 

    2003  Draftsman. CDCD Engineering, Sudbury, ON

  • 2016 Mot Liquide: Workshops for Salon du Livre. Sudbury, ON

    2011 Digital Animation. Instructor. Vancouver Island School of Art, BC

    2011 Teaching Assistant: Art 351 - Performance with Rebecca Belmore. University of Victoria, BC

    2011 Teaching Assistant: Art 104 - Sculpture with Megan Dickie. University of Victoria, BC

    2010 Art 261 - Digital Media Art. Instructor. University of Victoria, BC

    2009 Art 141 - Photography. Teaching Assistant. University of Victoria, BC

    2005 Music Teacher: Doumbec. Baladi National Baladi, Sudbury, ON

    2004-05 Music Teacher: Drum Set. Jett-Landry Music, Sudbury, ON

    2004 Art Teacher. The Art Gallery of Sudbury.

  • 2024 mentor. kinadas artist collective.

    2024 Synth Night. organizer with Michel Laforge

    2012-2023 Board Member. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury, ON

    2020 Team member/co-designer: Mashkikike. Honourable Mention (second place). Sudbury 2050 Urban Design Ideas Competition.

    2018 Jury Member, Visual Arts Projects. Ontario Arts Council

    2016 Shortlisted for Associate Professorship, Visual and Aboriginal Arts. Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba

    2015 Jury Member, Project Grants to Visual Arts. Canada Council for the Arts

  • 2010 “To Save The Sacred Waters: The Tsilhqot'in Fight For Their Lives And The Heart Of Their Land.” Sacred Fire Magazine: Issue 10: 28-32.

    2008 “Mapping Black Elk: Site Spirit.” Sacred Fire Magazine: Issue 8: 25-29.

  • https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-matin-du-nord/segments/entrevue/369305/emilio-portal-kladon-stellaris-musique-electronique-ambiante-lichens?fbclid=IwAR2S5hbqU-QvLQ4nKwDkoNdDouV5trwAY7h5Wfsp2uyvxsS_7Dvl392z5g0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmDte0Iy4PY&feature=emb_logo

    https://ici.radio-canada.ca/premiere/emissions/le-matin-du-nord/segments/entrevue/210942/emilio-portal-ma-sh-ki-ki-ke-sudbury-2050-ruisseaux-centre-ville

    https://www.canadianarchitect.com/the-sudbury-2050-urban-design-competition-finalists-announced/

    https://oaa.on.ca/whats-on/news-and-insights/news-and-insights-detail/Local-design-team-pitches-healing-plan-as-part-of-Sudbury-2050-Urban-Design-Ideas-Competition

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-2050-urban-design-competition-finalists-mashkikike-1.5798443

    https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-41/clip/15808257

    https://ici.radio-canada.ca/premiere/emissions/le-matin-du-nord/episodes/464021/rattrapage-du-lundi-25-mai-2020/3

    https://mythsandmirrors.org/2020/05/16/she-is-awakening-emerging-through-art-sound/

    https://gn-o.org/expo/remember-of-water/

    7a-11d, “Blackflash features 7a*md8 curators Golboo Amani and Francisco-Fernando Granados in conversation: On-Line On-Screen Live Stream: Curating Performance in Cyberspace” (May-September, 2018). http://7a-11d.ca/festival_updates/blackflash-features-7amd8-curatorsgolboo-amani-and-francisco-fernando-granados-in-conversation/

    Golboo Amani, review of Handmade fire, in “The wisps of smoke fill my nostrils. I inhale deeply and gently ,” the lie of the land  (July 13, 2016). https://thelieofthelandblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/the-wisps-of-smoke-fill-my-nostrils-iinhale-deeply-and-gently/

    “Portals,” in Emergency Index: an annual document of performance practice , vol. 3, ed. Yelena Gluzman (Brooklyn: Ugly Duckling Presse, 2014) 164-165.

    https://grunt.ca/exhibitions/qiqayt-1982/

    https://www.timescolonist.com/life/more-to-pile-of-wood-than-meets-the-eye-1.12525

    Peter Morin and April Piluso. islands: Emilio Portal. Open Space Arts Society. ISBN 978-1-895532-38-8. 2012. https://openspace.ca/publications/islands-emilio-portal

    https://e-artexte.ca/id/eprint/31003/

    https://openspace.ca/programming/islands-emilio-portal

    https://gn-o.org/expo/slag/

    https://ministryofcasualliving.ca/show/269789/view

    Marc Audette [et al.]96-97. A Few Degrees Apart. ISBN 978-2-923274-00-3. 2007.

    https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/liaison/2007-n136-liaison1087640/41012ac.pdf

    https://gn-o.org/expo/chemin/

    https://gn-o.org/artiste/emilio-portal/