BIO
Emily Altieri is an artist born and raised in North Carolina. She attends Appalachian State University and is expected to graduate in spring 2026 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Painting and Drawing. Altieri’s upbringing along the East Coast has inspired her body of work grounded in memories and perspective. She paints with intense saturation and vibrance, much as she viewed her childhood. Painting familiar places, Altieri uses her artistic practice to travel back in time to sites she can no longer visit but remembers far too well. She presents warmth and comfort through loose brush strokes and intentional layering of acrylic paint.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am writing my artist statement, as I know it will differ in as little as two weeks. Fascinated by the sublime and the process of life. Lately, I have focused on the impacts of loss and how I chose to confront grief to appreciate life and learn to slow myself down. Through my art, I can seek out the positive aspects and create a sense of safety that may help someone find peace. This perspective has also relieved my mental health struggles alongside this new, unexperienced grief of losing my grandma, who is a huge inspiration for my artistic practice. As memories naturally fade with time, I capture what remains using my imagination and photo references to bring comfort and recognition with saturation and a painterly touch.
My acrylic paintings use perspective both visually and metaphorically, guiding the viewer through the interiors and exteriors of remembered spaces. Vibrant, saturated color transforms familiar landscapes into places that feel simultaneously dreamlike and tangible. Through my work, I open the doors of my memory, inviting viewers to see the beauty of the places my loved ones once lived in, breathed in, and made meaningful.
Hi y'all! My name is Emily Altieri. I'm currently 22 years old, and I attend Appalachian State University. Art has always been a consistent part of my life, even when I did not realize it. Pursuing an art career was always a dream I thought was too far away, and now that I'm taking the risk, I couldn't be happier. A few random things about me: I love Italian food, shopping, my friends, my family, animals, the beach, all kinds of music, soft pretzels from the mall, Minecraft, binge-watching shows, and so much more.