Mission

Maurilio Tapia’s work explores the manipulation of expectations and standards, both physically and intellectually, in an effort to support and define the sub and counter cultures that lie within the American lifestyle. It is through art where we choose to define who we are as individuals, and who we are as a collective. Breaking traditional norms in day-to-day life and the standards that lie within the arts is something in which Maurilio continues to explore as the definition of what it means to be an artist becomes clearer.

“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.”

- Maurilio Tapia

Goals

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

• 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 informal institutions, such as museums.

• Give back to various communities nationwide.

Maurilio Tapia.

Working under the alias “StarStormTito”, the name stems from a culmination between a variety of influences: hip-hop, the digital world, and growing up as a Mexican-American. In hip-hop and music in general, artists often give themselves a stage or performance name, almost as an alter ego. “StarStorm” in particular, refers to an all-out attack within the “Mother” or “Earthbound” video games developed by Nintendo. “Tito” has been the affectionate nickname given to Maurilio as a child that continues to be present to this day. The combination of the three is pivotal in Maurilio’s daily life: The strong influence of hip-hop and its elements, the influence of Japanese and Asian cultures within his life, and the experience of growing up as a first-generation Mexican-American. In Maurilio’s work, the culmination and intersection between cultures serve as a catalyst in understanding the individuals, culture, and lifestyle that lie outside of the dominant culture. Art is historical; thus, Maurilio documents the life and times of a culture that is more than often left out of historical documentation.

Maurilio’s artwork has rarely been about himself. Graphic Design and the Fine Arts provide a means to empower and protect the rich cultures in which he is actively a participant. To brand is to provide an identity. By providing a new and fresh identity to those who do not have a method to receiving a representative identity, Maurilio not only strives to give others within the culture a sense of power and pride, but also enriches their expression as people of color and as active participants in today’s society.