Rhode Island School of Design MFA Textiles | 2025

THESIS

The textile work I have developed for my thesis is an exposing of the social interactions and phenomena of underprivileged realities and our mechanisms of survival. My work explores theatrics of community violence, as well as the archetypes and congruity of gang rituals, street murals, and labor. With an emphasis on deconstructed form, the work developed incorporates identity driven artifacts of my neighborhood back home. My garments which are hand patterned and self sewn represent victims, perpetrators and spectators of violence. Moments in my collection feature palimpsests composed of my hometown’s graffiti and real bullets woven into cloth using the linear exchange of the double block weave structure. There is a sincere dedication to labor with the development of my thesis work. Select textiles for my apparel are predominantly hand woven on an eight harness floor loom, and the usage of my hands was highly important for me. People back home threw punches, and here at RISD is where I learned how to throw picks. 

Through my work, the direct intention is that  I force your gaze to shift onto the sections of marginality I am affiliated with through legacy. I honor the violence we perform and the tools we carry with us. These are not only traditional tools but metaphorical tools. These are the tools of family members, immigrants, and gang members alike. Tools that blister a hand and tools that bloody a hand. This semester I ask myself if a gun and bullets are a weapon or a tool. Earning a Master’s degree at the Rhode Island School of Design is my choice of weapon. 

This is how to shoot a gun.

“Meet Rene Camarillo | Weaver, Textile, and Garment Producer” is published by Shoutout LA Magazine on february 26, 2024

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rene Camarillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rene, what makes you happy? Why?

“Meet Rene Camarillo | Apparel Investigator and Creator” is published by Shoutout LA Magazine on April 18, 2022

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rene Camarillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rene, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?

“Dissecting Destacrase” is published by The New Absurdist on June 6, 2024.

Rene Camarillo is an East Los Angeles born and raised creative who produces textiles and handcrafted apparel with themes of immigrant realities, neglected labor, and critique on the social engagement of fast fashion industry practices.

“Meet Rene Camarillo” is published by Canvas Rebel Magazine on June 05, 2023

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rene Camarillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rene below.

“Meet Rene Camarillo | Textile and Garment Creative” is published by Shoutout LA Magazine on May 01, 2023

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rene Camarillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rene, why did you pursue a creative career?

“Conversations with Rene Camarillo” is published by Voyage LA Magazine on September 12, 2022

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rene Camarillo.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.