Eric is an actor and writer using theatre, poetry, and film to address issues of race, class, and the assaults of systemic oppression on black and brown bodies. His art is culturally specific and provocative. He uses agitprop, satire, and inspiration from oral histories. Eric has been on a long journey sharing stories from the urban lived experience in America. His plays are autobiographical in nature, exploring the Puerto Rican diaspora experience, the poor/working class experience, and stories of transformation from trauma towards liberation.
Aviles has also directed and written several short independent films for the self-produced projects Video Mixtape Vol. 1: Art of The Possible and the Mix Vol. 2: Live at the Batey, with his organization, Liberation Arts Collective, at Hostos Center for Arts & Culture.
Aviles is a recipient of the 2018 New York Innovative Theater Award for "Outstanding Original Full-Length Script" and was a nominee for "Outstanding Solo Performance" for his solo play, “Where You From? What You Be About?”
As a veteran actor, he has performed nationally at numerous theaters, including El Teatro Campesino, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Teatro Vista, Borderlands, INTAR, and many more. Notable performances include the Borderlands Theatre Maria Circular Dance production at the first National Latino Theatre Festival “Encuentro” in Los Angeles and the world premiere of Oedipus El Rey by Luis Alfaro at the Magic Theatre. He’s in the first produced film about Puerto Ricans in Chicago called “Chicago Boricua.” In the Beginning, he wrote a spoken word performance about the Taino rebellion in Puerto Rico, which he did with accompanying music by 7-time Grammy nominee John Santos.
Eric has over twenty years of teaching playwriting and directing originally devised plays with non-artists from poor/working-class communities of color. He’s created art with elementary-age children to seniors in schools, community centers, and prisons. These plays are collaborative, autobiographical, and centered on themes of healing, identity, family, and community.
Eric is a RYT 200 Yoga Instructor (registered with Yoga Alliance) using meditation, yoga, and culturally based rituals to create art. Eric was a Creatives Rebuild New York (AEP) grantee in partnership with Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture. He has been honored with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council “Creative Engagement”, and a Puffin Foundation grant.
Aviles has also directed and written several short independent films for the self-produced projects Video Mixtape Vol. 1: Art of The Possible and the Mix Vol. 2: Live at the Batey, with his organization, Liberation Arts Collective, at Hostos Center for Arts & Culture.
Aviles is a recipient of the 2018 New York Innovative Theater Award for "Outstanding Original Full-Length Script" and was a nominee for "Outstanding Solo Performance" for his solo play, “Where You From? What You Be About?”
As a veteran actor, he has performed nationally at numerous theaters, including El Teatro Campesino, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Teatro Vista, Borderlands, INTAR, and many more. Notable performances include the Borderlands Theatre Maria Circular Dance production at the first National Latino Theatre Festival “Encuentro” in Los Angeles and the world premiere of Oedipus El Rey by Luis Alfaro at the Magic Theatre. He’s in the first produced film about Puerto Ricans in Chicago called “Chicago Boricua.” In the Beginning, he wrote a spoken word performance about the Taino rebellion in Puerto Rico, which he did with accompanying music by 7-time Grammy nominee John Santos.
Eric has over twenty years of teaching playwriting and directing originally devised plays with non-artists from poor/working-class communities of color. He’s created art with elementary-age children to seniors in schools, community centers, and prisons. These plays are collaborative, autobiographical, and centered on themes of healing, identity, family, and community.
Eric is a RYT 200 Yoga Instructor (registered with Yoga Alliance) using meditation, yoga, and culturally based rituals to create art. Eric was a Creatives Rebuild New York (AEP) grantee in partnership with Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture. He has been honored with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council “Creative Engagement”, and a Puffin Foundation grant.