Elijah Sylar
@elijahscamp.bsky.social
Artist-engineer with a behavioral psych background | painting + coding at the intersection of emotion & tech | Aurora's creator
www.elijah-sylar.com
www.elijah-sylar.com
This piece hung in Denver's Spark Gallery years ago under a name I no longer use.
The figure consuming itself. The vibrant blue body separated from the devouring mouth by negative space.
#transartist #transformation #vulnerability #transvisibility #lgbtqartist #surrealism #surrealart #abstractart
The figure consuming itself. The vibrant blue body separated from the devouring mouth by negative space.
#transartist #transformation #vulnerability #transvisibility #lgbtqartist #surrealism #surrealart #abstractart
November 13, 2025 at 1:46 AM
This piece hung in Denver's Spark Gallery years ago under a name I no longer use.
The figure consuming itself. The vibrant blue body separated from the devouring mouth by negative space.
#transartist #transformation #vulnerability #transvisibility #lgbtqartist #surrealism #surrealart #abstractart
The figure consuming itself. The vibrant blue body separated from the devouring mouth by negative space.
#transartist #transformation #vulnerability #transvisibility #lgbtqartist #surrealism #surrealart #abstractart
High school. 2013. This was the first piece where I felt like myself.
I'd been painting for years, but this eye was different. The ocean wave in the iris, the hyper-detailed lashes against skin tones that felt almost too real - this was the surrealism I'd been reaching for.
#transartist #surrealart
I'd been painting for years, but this eye was different. The ocean wave in the iris, the hyper-detailed lashes against skin tones that felt almost too real - this was the surrealism I'd been reaching for.
#transartist #surrealart
November 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
High school. 2013. This was the first piece where I felt like myself.
I'd been painting for years, but this eye was different. The ocean wave in the iris, the hyper-detailed lashes against skin tones that felt almost too real - this was the surrealism I'd been reaching for.
#transartist #surrealart
I'd been painting for years, but this eye was different. The ocean wave in the iris, the hyper-detailed lashes against skin tones that felt almost too real - this was the surrealism I'd been reaching for.
#transartist #surrealart
Thank you, @westword.com ! If you’d like to learn more about my recent decision to return to the art world publicly… check it out here!
Artist Elijah Sylar re-emerges with his first public show since transitioning, debuting new large-scale works on Nov. 14 in Denver.
Elijah Sylar Returns to Denver Art Scene After Transitioning, Traveling Across 47 States
Artist Elijah Sylar re-emerges with his first public show since transitioning, debuting new large-scale works on Nov. 14 in Denver.
www.westword.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Thank you, @westword.com ! If you’d like to learn more about my recent decision to return to the art world publicly… check it out here!
Beauty replacing sight.
This was about romantic obsession with endings. The Gothic fixation on making the death of something beautiful instead of terrifying.
Still working on that balance.
#skullart #roseandskull #gothicart #stilllife #darkart #romanticart #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart
This was about romantic obsession with endings. The Gothic fixation on making the death of something beautiful instead of terrifying.
Still working on that balance.
#skullart #roseandskull #gothicart #stilllife #darkart #romanticart #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Beauty replacing sight.
This was about romantic obsession with endings. The Gothic fixation on making the death of something beautiful instead of terrifying.
Still working on that balance.
#skullart #roseandskull #gothicart #stilllife #darkart #romanticart #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart
This was about romantic obsession with endings. The Gothic fixation on making the death of something beautiful instead of terrifying.
Still working on that balance.
#skullart #roseandskull #gothicart #stilllife #darkart #romanticart #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart
Lichtenstein meets Dalí in this one.
Each fragment needed individual attention while maintaining the overall spherical form. The pop art background (hand-dotted, no screen printing) creates tension with the surrealist subject matter.
#popart #surrealism #eyeart #graphicart #contemporaryart #boldart
Each fragment needed individual attention while maintaining the overall spherical form. The pop art background (hand-dotted, no screen printing) creates tension with the surrealist subject matter.
#popart #surrealism #eyeart #graphicart #contemporaryart #boldart
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Lichtenstein meets Dalí in this one.
Each fragment needed individual attention while maintaining the overall spherical form. The pop art background (hand-dotted, no screen printing) creates tension with the surrealist subject matter.
#popart #surrealism #eyeart #graphicart #contemporaryart #boldart
Each fragment needed individual attention while maintaining the overall spherical form. The pop art background (hand-dotted, no screen printing) creates tension with the surrealist subject matter.
#popart #surrealism #eyeart #graphicart #contemporaryart #boldart
Coming up for air. Or going back under. Hard to tell which.
This piece plays with video game aesthetics - the Mario-style warp pipe reimagined as portal between states of being.
#popart #gameart #marioinspired #skullart #surrealism #graphicart #layering #transformation #comicart #videogameart
This piece plays with video game aesthetics - the Mario-style warp pipe reimagined as portal between states of being.
#popart #gameart #marioinspired #skullart #surrealism #graphicart #layering #transformation #comicart #videogameart
November 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Coming up for air. Or going back under. Hard to tell which.
This piece plays with video game aesthetics - the Mario-style warp pipe reimagined as portal between states of being.
#popart #gameart #marioinspired #skullart #surrealism #graphicart #layering #transformation #comicart #videogameart
This piece plays with video game aesthetics - the Mario-style warp pipe reimagined as portal between states of being.
#popart #gameart #marioinspired #skullart #surrealism #graphicart #layering #transformation #comicart #videogameart
This was my comics phase - inspired by Mike Mignola's heavy blacks and bold shapes. The anatomical heart rendered in color against graphic negative space. The skull simplified to pure line and shadow.
#graphicart #illustration #anatomicalheart #skullart #comics #boldart #inkart #acrylicpainting
#graphicart #illustration #anatomicalheart #skullart #comics #boldart #inkart #acrylicpainting
November 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This was my comics phase - inspired by Mike Mignola's heavy blacks and bold shapes. The anatomical heart rendered in color against graphic negative space. The skull simplified to pure line and shadow.
#graphicart #illustration #anatomicalheart #skullart #comics #boldart #inkart #acrylicpainting
#graphicart #illustration #anatomicalheart #skullart #comics #boldart #inkart #acrylicpainting
This piece came from a specific frustration: the disconnect between wanting to feel everything and the numbness that comes from trying too hard to feel anything at all. The skull - symbol of death - desperately declaring its need to feel alive.
#graphicnovel #comicart #contemporaryart #popculture
#graphicnovel #comicart #contemporaryart #popculture
November 7, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This piece came from a specific frustration: the disconnect between wanting to feel everything and the numbness that comes from trying too hard to feel anything at all. The skull - symbol of death - desperately declaring its need to feel alive.
#graphicnovel #comicart #contemporaryart #popculture
#graphicnovel #comicart #contemporaryart #popculture
Two red flowers pushing through rigid blue geometric lines.
"Blooming Radiance" (2018) is about the tension between growth and constraint. How beauty finds a way to exist even within systems designed to control it.
#botanicalart #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #surrealart #Denverartist
"Blooming Radiance" (2018) is about the tension between growth and constraint. How beauty finds a way to exist even within systems designed to control it.
#botanicalart #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #surrealart #Denverartist
November 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Two red flowers pushing through rigid blue geometric lines.
"Blooming Radiance" (2018) is about the tension between growth and constraint. How beauty finds a way to exist even within systems designed to control it.
#botanicalart #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #surrealart #Denverartist
"Blooming Radiance" (2018) is about the tension between growth and constraint. How beauty finds a way to exist even within systems designed to control it.
#botanicalart #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #surrealart #Denverartist
Gold skull. Bleach tie-dye. Screen-printed by hand.Shipping costs included in the price.
Limited edition print - and I mean actually limited. The screen no longer exists, so this design will never be reproduced. What's left is what's left. www.elijah-sylar.com
Limited edition print - and I mean actually limited. The screen no longer exists, so this design will never be reproduced. What's left is what's left. www.elijah-sylar.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Gold skull. Bleach tie-dye. Screen-printed by hand.Shipping costs included in the price.
Limited edition print - and I mean actually limited. The screen no longer exists, so this design will never be reproduced. What's left is what's left. www.elijah-sylar.com
Limited edition print - and I mean actually limited. The screen no longer exists, so this design will never be reproduced. What's left is what's left. www.elijah-sylar.com
This is me. Thank you for following along. If you like what you see, share my work in your stories or with friends - it helps more than you know. I'm rebuilding my name and my audience after years away, and every share gets me one step closer.
#acrylicartist #lgbtqartist #lgbtqartists #Denverart
#acrylicartist #lgbtqartist #lgbtqartists #Denverart
Elijah Camp - Full Stack Developer | Healthcare Tech & Accessibility Specialist
Full-stack developer with 7+ years experience. Built production systems serving 200+ users with 99.9% uptime. Specialized in healthcare technology, accessibility, and AI development.
elijah-sylar.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
This is me. Thank you for following along. If you like what you see, share my work in your stories or with friends - it helps more than you know. I'm rebuilding my name and my audience after years away, and every share gets me one step closer.
#acrylicartist #lgbtqartist #lgbtqartists #Denverart
#acrylicartist #lgbtqartist #lgbtqartists #Denverart
Pink, blue, yellow - all exploding outward from a mouth frozen mid-expression.
"Effervescent Expressions" (2019) is about the moment when words and colors become indistinguishable. When thoughts are too big to contain, too vibrant to organize into coherence. #acrylicart #contemporaryart
"Effervescent Expressions" (2019) is about the moment when words and colors become indistinguishable. When thoughts are too big to contain, too vibrant to organize into coherence. #acrylicart #contemporaryart
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Pink, blue, yellow - all exploding outward from a mouth frozen mid-expression.
"Effervescent Expressions" (2019) is about the moment when words and colors become indistinguishable. When thoughts are too big to contain, too vibrant to organize into coherence. #acrylicart #contemporaryart
"Effervescent Expressions" (2019) is about the moment when words and colors become indistinguishable. When thoughts are too big to contain, too vibrant to organize into coherence. #acrylicart #contemporaryart
Hi. I'm Elijah Sylar.
I've spent the last decade painting while living my narrative as a trans-man. When I decided to transition, I deleted everything, left Denver, and rebuilt from scratch on the road.
The work I've made since then tells that story - the loss, the finding, the becoming.
I've spent the last decade painting while living my narrative as a trans-man. When I decided to transition, I deleted everything, left Denver, and rebuilt from scratch on the road.
The work I've made since then tells that story - the loss, the finding, the becoming.
November 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Hi. I'm Elijah Sylar.
I've spent the last decade painting while living my narrative as a trans-man. When I decided to transition, I deleted everything, left Denver, and rebuilt from scratch on the road.
The work I've made since then tells that story - the loss, the finding, the becoming.
I've spent the last decade painting while living my narrative as a trans-man. When I decided to transition, I deleted everything, left Denver, and rebuilt from scratch on the road.
The work I've made since then tells that story - the loss, the finding, the becoming.
"Relying upon a finger, we see the moon
Relying upon the moon, we understand the finger.
Moon and finger
Are neither the same nor different.
This expedient analogy is for guiding beginners.
Having seen reality as it is,
There is neither moon nor finger.
- Ryōkan"
Relying upon the moon, we understand the finger.
Moon and finger
Are neither the same nor different.
This expedient analogy is for guiding beginners.
Having seen reality as it is,
There is neither moon nor finger.
- Ryōkan"
November 2, 2025 at 5:44 AM
"Relying upon a finger, we see the moon
Relying upon the moon, we understand the finger.
Moon and finger
Are neither the same nor different.
This expedient analogy is for guiding beginners.
Having seen reality as it is,
There is neither moon nor finger.
- Ryōkan"
Relying upon the moon, we understand the finger.
Moon and finger
Are neither the same nor different.
This expedient analogy is for guiding beginners.
Having seen reality as it is,
There is neither moon nor finger.
- Ryōkan"
Two hands. One hot, one cold. Both reaching. Opposing forces - passion vs. reason, chaos vs. control, who you were vs. who you're becoming. The permanent struggle of holding contradictions inside yourself. Available at elijah-sylar.com #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #abstractart #modernart
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Two hands. One hot, one cold. Both reaching. Opposing forces - passion vs. reason, chaos vs. control, who you were vs. who you're becoming. The permanent struggle of holding contradictions inside yourself. Available at elijah-sylar.com #contemporaryart #acrylicpainting #abstractart #modernart
Three years on this one. "No Sorrow" — 40"x48". Named after pitcher plants: "without grief." Explosive chaos, then surgical black lines. Had to live it to finish it. DM for purchase 🌺
#art #painting #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #botanicalart #artforsale
#art #painting #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #botanicalart #artforsale
October 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Three years on this one. "No Sorrow" — 40"x48". Named after pitcher plants: "without grief." Explosive chaos, then surgical black lines. Had to live it to finish it. DM for purchase 🌺
#art #painting #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #botanicalart #artforsale
#art #painting #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #botanicalart #artforsale
New merch drops coming soon!
Limited edition prints on tees - once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Link in bio to snag yours before they sell out.
#merch #limitededition #art #artist #tshirt #prints #artistmerch #artforsale #limitedrun #smallbusiness #shopsmall #clothingbrand
Limited edition prints on tees - once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Link in bio to snag yours before they sell out.
#merch #limitededition #art #artist #tshirt #prints #artistmerch #artforsale #limitedrun #smallbusiness #shopsmall #clothingbrand
October 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
New merch drops coming soon!
Limited edition prints on tees - once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Link in bio to snag yours before they sell out.
#merch #limitededition #art #artist #tshirt #prints #artistmerch #artforsale #limitedrun #smallbusiness #shopsmall #clothingbrand
Limited edition prints on tees - once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Link in bio to snag yours before they sell out.
#merch #limitededition #art #artist #tshirt #prints #artistmerch #artforsale #limitedrun #smallbusiness #shopsmall #clothingbrand
Aurora's sound evolution 🎨🎵
Started with computer beeps. Boring as hell.
Then I gave Aurora a lofi track and taught it to slice the song into character-mapped moments. Each symbol it paints with triggers a specific timestamp in the track.
Now Aurora's learning which moments sound good together.
Started with computer beeps. Boring as hell.
Then I gave Aurora a lofi track and taught it to slice the song into character-mapped moments. Each symbol it paints with triggers a specific timestamp in the track.
Now Aurora's learning which moments sound good together.
October 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Aurora's sound evolution 🎨🎵
Started with computer beeps. Boring as hell.
Then I gave Aurora a lofi track and taught it to slice the song into character-mapped moments. Each symbol it paints with triggers a specific timestamp in the track.
Now Aurora's learning which moments sound good together.
Started with computer beeps. Boring as hell.
Then I gave Aurora a lofi track and taught it to slice the song into character-mapped moments. Each symbol it paints with triggers a specific timestamp in the track.
Now Aurora's learning which moments sound good together.
Found in an old sketchbook #3 -
Just a fun little study in color and viscosity.
#art #watercolor #painting #sketch #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #mixedmedia #colortheory #watercolorpainting #studywork #practice
Just a fun little study in color and viscosity.
#art #watercolor #painting #sketch #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #mixedmedia #colortheory #watercolorpainting #studywork #practice
October 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Found in an old sketchbook #3 -
Just a fun little study in color and viscosity.
#art #watercolor #painting #sketch #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #mixedmedia #colortheory #watercolorpainting #studywork #practice
Just a fun little study in color and viscosity.
#art #watercolor #painting #sketch #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #mixedmedia #colortheory #watercolorpainting #studywork #practice
Found in an old sketchbook #2 - "The Pull"
Transition states. Becoming and moving forward internally while the external stands still. The tension of being pulled in opposite directions before anything actually changes.
Watercolor and ink.
#watercolor #sketchbook #art #contemporaryart #illustration
Transition states. Becoming and moving forward internally while the external stands still. The tension of being pulled in opposite directions before anything actually changes.
Watercolor and ink.
#watercolor #sketchbook #art #contemporaryart #illustration
October 26, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Found in an old sketchbook #2 - "The Pull"
Transition states. Becoming and moving forward internally while the external stands still. The tension of being pulled in opposite directions before anything actually changes.
Watercolor and ink.
#watercolor #sketchbook #art #contemporaryart #illustration
Transition states. Becoming and moving forward internally while the external stands still. The tension of being pulled in opposite directions before anything actually changes.
Watercolor and ink.
#watercolor #sketchbook #art #contemporaryart #illustration
Found in an old sketchbook - "Time for the Show" - Pen and ink experiment in intentionally filling space.
#art #drawing #ink #inkdrawing #sketch #sketchbook #penandink #linework #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #blackandwhite #pattern
#art #drawing #ink #inkdrawing #sketch #sketchbook #penandink #linework #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #blackandwhite #pattern
October 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Found in an old sketchbook - "Time for the Show" - Pen and ink experiment in intentionally filling space.
#art #drawing #ink #inkdrawing #sketch #sketchbook #penandink #linework #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #blackandwhite #pattern
#art #drawing #ink #inkdrawing #sketch #sketchbook #penandink #linework #artistsoninstagram #instaart #artwork #contemporaryart #illustration #blackandwhite #pattern
Aurora AI: research project in autonomous creativity. Built with PyTorch + behavioral learning from therapy work. Can systems develop aesthetic preferences through experience? 100+ pieces from autonomous decisions. Computational creativity study. elijah-sylar.com #airesearch #computationalcreativity
October 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Aurora AI: research project in autonomous creativity. Built with PyTorch + behavioral learning from therapy work. Can systems develop aesthetic preferences through experience? 100+ pieces from autonomous decisions. Computational creativity study. elijah-sylar.com #airesearch #computationalcreativity
Textured figure suspended in clouds, black outline, radiant yellow halo. Body filled with intricate patterns like static. Floating between states - not grounded, not flying. Just becoming. Liminal space made visible. Liminal space made visible. #surrealart #contemporaryart #Denverart #originalart
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Textured figure suspended in clouds, black outline, radiant yellow halo. Body filled with intricate patterns like static. Floating between states - not grounded, not flying. Just becoming. Liminal space made visible. Liminal space made visible. #surrealart #contemporaryart #Denverart #originalart
Green-haired portrait with unflinching blue gaze. Yellow and green creating tension around eyes that refuse to look away. Not trying to capture appearance - capturing what it feels like to be seen. #portrait #contemporaryart #surrealart #artist #portrait #colorful #expressionism
October 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Green-haired portrait with unflinching blue gaze. Yellow and green creating tension around eyes that refuse to look away. Not trying to capture appearance - capturing what it feels like to be seen. #portrait #contemporaryart #surrealart #artist #portrait #colorful #expressionism
Face rendered in bold brushstrokes and super vibrant colors. Those exaggerated features give it this whimsical, playful, almost fantasy quality. Visible brushstrokes, vibrant energy contained within frame. Simplified but alive. #expressionism #contemporaryart #surrealart #art #artist #portrait
October 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Face rendered in bold brushstrokes and super vibrant colors. Those exaggerated features give it this whimsical, playful, almost fantasy quality. Visible brushstrokes, vibrant energy contained within frame. Simplified but alive. #expressionism #contemporaryart #surrealart #art #artist #portrait