About Me

Shekoli, my name is Leovardo Q. Aguilar. I am currently the owner and operator of Pond Scum Studio, a horticulturist, full-time student, father, and an enrolled Wisconsin Oneida tribal member. Bringing laughter and knowledge into a room helps make my day feel complete.

Everyone who knows me can attest to my warmth, humor, and unique perspectives. Those who don’t know me may be intimidated by looks- which just makes the rest of us laugh even more. Much like a harmless animal that resembles a dangerous one, I consider my looks to be a form of benevolent mimicry.

My Story

My journey into higher education started in 2017 when I pursued my associate degree in landscape horticulture at Lakeshore Technical College. Upon graduation, I joined the national award-winning Landmark Landscapes and became a division foreman. After hundreds of hours of plant installations, invasive species removals, and moving toads out of harm's way on jobsites, it became clear I needed to continue my education. I’m now working on my bachelor's degree in environmental engineering technology at UW-Green Bay.

I'm a lifelong creative, but lost touch with my muses around 2010. It took nearly a decade before I switched out my historic preference for pencil and paper to try my hand at using acrylic paint and canvas. The flowing medium allowed me to blend colors and blur lines- much like adulthood had done to my sense of self identity over the years. A new muse arose in the form of nostalgic SpongeBob SquarePants images. This led to a slurry of other cartoon focused works. Now, I strive to create original pieces made with manufactured and natural materials. Often jumping between mediums, styles, or concepts in between projects, I try to weave together seemingly disparate ideas.