Working from her home studio in Auckland, New Zealand, Erika has been exhibiting for 7 years. Her medium of choice is oil although she also works in acrylic, mixed media, small sculpture, assemblage, collage and paper.
There are two main areas of interest in her work, one is whimsical and the other an acute awareness and research into post-modernism, of which process art is her main interest. Although seemingly at opposite ends of the artistic spectrum, the two modes sit comfortably with her method of work, letting her fluctuate between the two. Her works speak of technical proficiency as well as a deep-seated drive researching process art and the questioning thereof. Life experience allows her to experiment freely, and in itself inspire ongoing research. "I press on, blindly" - E Husselmann.
Techniques include alla primo, impasto, sgraffito and sfumato, also layering and glazing - these are often combined but regularly employed according to what the specific work may demand in a heuristic way. On the other hand her process art show marks and materials not usually associated with high art, breaking with traditional art-making and involving the viewer by calling upon their own culture and life experience.
Artists who influence her work include Caravaggio, Modigliani, Rita Angus, Colin McCahon. Her post-modern influences include Robert Ryman, Cy Twombly, Niele Toroni, Rauschenberg, Richard Serra and Eva Hesse. Erika has studied informally under June Jolly and Karl Amundsen. She holds a Batchelor of Music as well as an Advanced Diploma in Art and Creativity (2011) through an Oriel Hoskin Scholarship for study in 2009 and 2011, under the tutelage of Peter Adsett.
Her work is held in private collections in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and Sweden.
Cafe Jacaranda, 5-7 Corinthian Way, Albany, NZ House of Hedone, 5b High Street, Auckland, NZ The Garden Art Studio, Cambridge, NZ
EXHIBITIONS:
2012
"Off The Wall" at Artists Den and Art Gallery, 20 Kitchener Road, Milford, Auckland - 7 February to 3 March 2012 Wallace Gallery, Morrinsville, NZ - March 2012
2011
Cafe Jacaranda, 5-7 Corinthian Way, Albany - dedicated wall space, 6 works on display, ongoing International Collage Exchange, http://virtual.tart.co.nz 1 - 30 April 2011 "Journeys" Underground Art Exhibition, House of Hedone Gallery, 5b High Street, Auckland, 8 Feb - 6 Mar 2010 http://houseofhedone.co.nz
2010
"TCAC Christmas Cash & Carry", Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi, 2-18 December 2010 "Art on Main" small art exhibition, 17f Main Road, Tirau, 1-30 October 2010 'Women's Art Exhibition' "Inner Strength" Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna Beach, Auckland, 1st September - 29 September 2010 'NZ Art Show' TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, 29 July - 1st August 2010 'Braveheart' Art Exhibition, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland, 27-31 May 2010 International Collage Exchange, http://virtual.tart.co.nz 1 - 30 April 2010 'New Zealand's Got Talent', Invercargill City Gallery, Invercargill, 5 - 31 March 2010 'Love in the Lolly Shop', Hot Ginger Gallery, Kerikeri, 12 Feb - 8 March 2010 Finalist in 'Estuary Art Awards 2010', Uxbridge Creative Centre, Howick, 11 Feb - 11 March 2010
2009
"Melodious Art" Uxbridge Creative Centre, Howick, 31 July - 13 August 2009 "One Size Fits All" - Thornton Gallery, Hamilton, 10 - 31 July 2009 The Original Art Sale, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau City, 26 - 28 June 2009 "After Africa" - Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford, Taranaki, 20 March to 13 April 2009 National Drawing Award - The Physics Room, Christchurch, 20 January to 7 February then at Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington, 21 February to 14 March 2009
2008
Parua Bay Gallery Fourth Annual Exhibition - Parua Bay Auckland East Art exhibition - Kohimarama, Auckland "One Size Fits All" - Thornton Gallery, Hamilton The Original Art Sale - Auckland Royal Easter Show - Auckland
2007
The Original Art Sale - TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau City NZ Affordable Art Show - TSB Bank Arena, Wellington "One Size Fits All" - Thornton Gallery, Hamilton WAX National Women's Art Exhibition, Gisborne "Jafas Gathering" - Bruce Mason, Auckland "Adore" - Haven Art Gallery, Waipu
2006
NZ Affordable Art Show - Wellington
In print..
Channel Magazine for the North Shore February 2012 Issue 18
Viva Magazine, The NZ Herald 9/2/2011 page 2 - Underground exhibition 'Journeys', House of Hedone, 5b High Street, Auckland
The Southland Times 5/3/2010 http://tinyurl.com/yllabxt Featured in the Artfind Desk Calendar - 2009 The Living Channel art ad - 2006/7
