 According to art critic Tanya Hartman, Onofrio explores the relationship between life and death through clay sculpture and found objects.Known for glittery objects and installations, Onofrio began her artistic work in clay in the early 1970s, working out of a clay studio in the basement of her family home.She was strongly influenced by outdoor art and built armatures on which to layer the collections of miscellaneous beads, glass, and hardware.