Textile

This series emerges from the meditative act of working with textiles, jute, and other materials. Inspired by the Everglades, the sea, and the fragile balance of nature, the works reflect on the consequences of a concept of progress driven by consumption and economic greed.

Through organic textures, fibers, and layered surfaces, I explore the idea that human beings are not separate from nature but part of an interconnected living system, as many ancestral philosophies have understood.

The work also turns inward, asking how our own values and actions shape the world around us. By harming nature, we ultimately harm ourselves. These pieces invite reflection on responsibility, interdependence, and the possibility of restoring a more conscious relationship with the natural world.

Title: Die With Nature
Artist: Rafael Montilla
Year: 2024
Medium: Textile and mixed media
Materials: cotton threads, roots frame, macrame, cotton cord yarn, plastic, jute fabric & plastic mesh
Dimension:  74″ × 36″
Series: Nature

This artwork was exhibited at the Coral Springs Museum of Art and 3 galleries.

Title: We Are Nature
Artist: Rafael Montilla
Year: 2025
Medium: Textiles, natural roots, plastic, and mixed media
Dimensions: 29 × 56 × 9 inches (W × H × D)
Weight: 6 lb
Insurance Value: USD $3,900
Installation: Wall-mounted using hanging wire
Series: Nature

This artwork is currently on exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art.

Title: 
Artist: Rafael Montilla
Year: 2024
Medium: textile
Materials: cotton threads, macrame & cotton cord yarn
Dimension: 
Series: Ancient American