Alexis Portilla’s work is inspired by the concept of transmutation—the transformation of one element into another—reflecting the ever-changing world around her. Growing up in New York City, he observed the city’s skyline in constant architectural redevelopment, symbolizing the perpetual disintegration and regeneration of both its physical and human landscapes. This dynamic environment resonates with his own layered identity, shaped by his father’s roots in Mexico City and her mother’s Brooklyn heritage, now further influenced by his life in Sligo, Ireland.

Portilla is drawn to subjects like cosmology, physics, and improvisational jazz, which embody themes of transmutation and impermanence, offering new perspectives on life’s complexities. As resources dwindle and the world faces political and environmental challenges, he recognizes transformation as the only constant.

His artistic process reflects this ethos through layered abstract forms, mark-making, and incongruent phrasings, capturing the natural chaos of existence. Critics have likened his artwork to birds-eye aerial views of landscapes, topographical maps, and atmospheric spaces, all infused with a “constant sense of expansion.” Through his work, Portilla invites viewers to contemplate the beauty and complexity of a world in flux.