Eric Avilés is an actor and writer using theater, 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 agit-prop, 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.

Eric has also directed and written several short independent films with his organization, Liberation Arts Collective.

Eric 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.

Eric has over twenty years experience of teaching and directing original devised plays with non-artists from working-class communities of color. These plays are collaborative, autobiographical, and centered on themes of healing, identity, family, and community.

Eric is a RYT 200 Yoga Instructor using meditation, yoga, and culturally-based rituals to create art.