Finding the Architecture of Happiness: Inside the Artist Talk for “The Geometry of Empathy”

What happens when we strip away the complex, noisy layers of adult life and return to the very foundations of how we see?

Two weekends ago, the light-filled rooms of Ellio Fine Art in Houston transformed into a space part playground, part sanctuary. Collectors, art enthusiasts, and a remarkably vibrant contingent of the next generation gathered under the gallery's skylights for an intimate, interactive Artist Talk surrounding my current solo exhibition, The Geometry of Empathy.

In conversation with Brian from the gallery team, we pulled back the layers on the journey behind this new body of work—and explored how simple, precise geometry can help us dismantle the "fortress mentality" that separates us in the modern world.

Returning to Our First Sanctuary

During the talk, I shared a piece of my personal history that directly anchors this collection. Growing up in the Venezuelan Andes, I didn’t have formal art classes or commercial galleries. What I did have was a yellow crayon, a stack of blank copy paper, and a profound desire to understand the world around me.

At six years old, I wasn't operating as an "artist"—I was a translator. I translated reality into a geometric vocabulary that felt safe, simple, and holdable:

• The towering Andes became triangles.

• My home was a square beneath a triangular roof.

• The sun was a perfect, reassuring circle.

In those moments, the world made absolute sense. The Geometry of Empathy is my way of unlearning the static of adulthood to reclaim that childhood clarity. Before the world teaches us how to be different, we all inherently agree on the form of a circle. If we can find common ground in a basic shape, it is a beautiful, solid foundation to start finding common ground in each other.

Empathy is Not a Spectator Sport

One of the most rewarding moments of the afternoon was discussing—and physically demonstrating—the analog "sub-plot" built into this new series.

In an era dominated by deepfakes, digital filters, and instant skepticism, we have become cynical viewers. When we see something beautiful or luminous online, our immediate reflex is to presume digital manipulation.

The pieces in this show subvert that exact reflex. Each artwork carries a powerful, ethereal glow that uses absolutely no batteries, wires, or plugs. Instead, the radiant color shifts are achieved purely through physics: the precise, architectural layering of fluorescent enamel and transparent acrylic.

If you stand perfectly still and judge a piece from the front, it looks like a quiet, minimalist form. But to experience its hidden, vibrant spectrum—the Aura of Charm—you have to shift your weight. You have to move.

During the talk, we invited the entire audience to take three steps to their right. Watching the room shift in unison, and hearing the collective intake of breath as the hidden colors revealed themselves, perfectly illustrated the soul of this exhibition: Empathy requires an action. To see the true light in a piece of art—or in another human being—you must be willing to change your perspective.

The Beautiful Magic of the Playground-Chapel

I have often described this exhibition layout as a "Playground-Chapel." We need the quiet reverence of a sanctuary to breathe and process our thoughts, but we equally need the bold, messy curiosity of a child who isn't afraid to play with color.

Seeing several children sitting directly on the gallery's wood floor, completely mesmerized by the changing light, was the ultimate validation of this vision. Families stood side by side, capturing smiles against the backdrop of pulsating acrylic disks, reminding us all that structural harmony and deep human connection are the same.

Every piece in this series is physically interlocking; one layer cannot achieve its brilliance without relying on the structural layer beneath it. I hope everyone who shared space with us this weekend walked out of Ellio Fine Art feeling that exact sense of being "interlocked" with the community around them.

Beneath the heavy roles and armor we wear as adults, we are all built from these same simple, beautiful, glowing foundations.

Experience the Shift

A monumental thank you to Trish Matute and the phenomenal team at Ellio Fine Art for providing the perfect home for this creative revolution, to Brian for guiding a flawless conversation, and to every single person who came out to ask beautiful questions and share space.

If you missed the talk, the playground remains open. The Geometry of Empathy is on view in Houston through May 30, 2026. Come step inside, move your feet, and find your own aura.