Emily Pardo (b. 1999) is a contemporary oil painter from Miami, Florida, currently based in

Columbia, South Carolina. Through paintings on canvas and cradled wood panels, she explores

themes of identity, intimacy, desire, performance, emotional decay, and psychological

symbolism.

Drawing from contemporary culture, personal observation, internet imagery, and everyday

objects, Pardo creates works that combine recognizable subjects with unexpected symbolism.

Her paintings often feature altered portraits, animals, and staged scenes that blur the line

between attraction and discomfort. Beauty, danger, femininity, and fascination frequently coexist

within the same image.

Rather than illustrating a fixed narrative, Pardo uses symbolism and visual tension to explore

how identity is constructed, performed, concealed, and transformed. She is interested in the

emotional contradictions that exist beneath ordinary experiences—desire and disgust,

vulnerability and confidence, intimacy and distance. Through these contrasts, her work reflects

the complexities of contemporary life and the ways people navigate self-image, relationships,

and cultural expectations.

Material plays an important role in her practice. Working primarily in oil paint allows her to build

rich surfaces, subtle transitions, and heightened color relationships. Red and green appear

frequently throughout her work, serving as emotional and psychological tools. Juicy reds can

suggest desire, attraction, obsession, or danger, while foggy greens evoke unease, distance,

decay, or ambiguity. Combined with layered textures and mixed-media elements, these colors

help create images that feel both seductive and unsettling, inviting viewers to form their own

interpretations.

Pardo’s work invites viewers into spaces where familiarity and ambiguity coexist. By combining

symbolic imagery with emotionally charged compositions, she creates paintings that resist

simple conclusions and encourage personal reflection. Her ongoing practice examines the

shifting nature of identity, perception, and human connection, offering images that remain open

to interpretation while revealing new layers of meaning over time.

Selected Exhibitions and Appearances

2025, Common Market, South End, Charlotte NC

2024, Hunnid Dolla Art Fair, Charlotte NC, Camp North End

2023, Elvita Exhibit, Charlotte NC

2023, The Project 1610 x Elvita Exhibit, Charlotte NC

2023, Hunnid Dolla Art Fair, Charlotte NC, Camp North End

2022, Hunnid Dolla Art Fair, Charlotte NC, Camp North End

2022, Everywhere and Nowhere, Winthrop University Student Gallery, Rock Hill, SC

2022, Evergreen, Winthrop University Student Gallery, Rock Hill, SC

2021, Enigma Exhibition, Lewandowski Gallery. Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

2020, Foundations, Lewandowski Gallery. Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

2019, Climate Exhibit, McLaurin Galleries. Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 

2019, 7th Annual Collegiate Invitational Art Exhibition, Spartanburg Headquarters Library. Spartanburg, SC. 

2018, 6th Annual Collegiate Invitational Art Exhibition, Spartanburg Headquarters Library. Spartanburg, SC

2018, Honorable Mention, 6th Annual Collegiate Invitational Art Exhibition, Spartanburg Headquarters Library. Spartanburg, SC. 

EDUCATION 

2022, Bachelors of Fine Arts,  Winthrop University. Rock hill, SC 

2019, Associate of Fine Arts, Spartanburg Methodist College. Spartanburg, SC