Ellie Acebo-Hermiller’s passion for art conservation has led to her becoming a viral TikTok star.
A TikTok video depicting Acebo-Hermiller helping clean the Cloister at the Toledo Museum of Art has amassed more than 2 million views since being uploaded in December. People all over the world have responded to the TikTok, calling the video “satisfying” for the way Acebo-Hermiller removes the dirt and grime from the ancient stone with a special gel. The video was even written about in Newsweek.
Proud and excited to finally post this one! @toledomuseumofart #artconservation #arthistory #medievaltiktok #museum #satisfyingcleans #cleantok ♬ I Wanted to Leave - SYML
And Acebo-Hermiller can’t believe it.
“People have been way more interested in art conservation than I thought they would be,” said Acebo-Hermiller, with a laugh. A Texas native now living in Perrysburg with her husband Jordan and their nearly 3-year-old daughter, she began volunteering at TMA last summer after getting her Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from Brooklyn College.
Acebo-Hermiller says she spent nearly 10 years studying art in New York. She turned to TikTok as an emotional and creative outlet when the coronavirus pandemic hit, turning her channel into a one-woman art history show after discovering there were a lot of academics posting on the social network.
Acebo-Hermiller says she’s enjoying her viral fame and is happy people enjoy her art videos. She is currently planning to enroll in an art history master’s program and is looking at universities. “I really hope this leads to more internships and volunteer opportunities related to art conservation.”
First Published January 20, 2022, 4:55 p.m.
