ARTIST'S STATEMENT
My work is a contemplative language of process and experience. These elements range in setting but almost always include anatomy, urban ideas, sexuality, emotion, and chaotic structure. Each work is developed through predominately organic shapes using stream of consciousness, memories, and current events. Gestures can be softly or violently drawn, while more detailed forms and special attention to line are used to flatten yet 3-dimentionalize the image. These variations of dual intensity give my work a constant opposition of strength verses sensitivity. This composite can also be visible in the physical materials of the work which include acrylic, airbrush, soft linens, and pours that have counter tactile qualities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Erika Fortner began her training and career at the internationally renowned California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA, where she attended the CSSSA (California State Summer School for the Arts- Innerspark) honors art program awarded to the top artists in the state. During that time, she received various awards including the Seal of California, Honorable Mentions from the U.S. Senate. Some of her works were published in the Back Alley Arts Magazine while a collection of her paintings debuted in a 2004 film released under The Asylum Production Company. She continued her training by becoming a digital animator while continuing her families business in high-end cabinetry and finishing. After leaving California, Erika attended the highly respected Pratt Institute of Fine Arts to obtain her BFA in Painting. There she was recognized on the President's List and included in many collegiate shows, exhibited at Medium NYC in Chelsea, and had her first solo exhibit in September 2008 with the Terra Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. Currently, Erika is painting out of Berlin, Germany, and works for Julie Mehretu as a Finish Consultant and Artist Assistant.CIRCUM VITAE

BORN
1980 Ventura, California
LIVES AND WORKS
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A and Berlin, Germany

EDUCATION

2008 Pratt Art Institute, Brooklyn, NY, BFA Painting
2006 Universitá Internazionale dell'Arte, Venice, Italy, Painting and Art History (Summer)
2006 Scuola Internazionale di Graficam, Venice, Italy, Printmaking (Summer)
1999 Technology Development Center, Ventura, CA, Digital Animation Certification
1996 Cal Arts Innerspark (CSSSA), Valencia, CA, Painting, Ceramics (Summer)

PROFFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

2004-PRESENT- Assistant and Finish Consultant for Julie Mehretu

EXHIBITIONS (One or two person show marked with an asterisk)

JUNE 2009- Personally Political- Contemporary Sensation, Tacheles, Berlin,Germany
APRIL 2009- Bring Down Your Ruler, Atelierhof Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
APRIL 2009- Private Exhibition, Mehretu-Rankin Studio, Berlin, Germany
MAY 2009- Miscellany Springs, Turn Berlin, Berlin, Germany
JANUARY 2009- The Body, the 11th Annual "Postcards from the Edge" Benefit for Visual AIDS, Metro Pictures, New York, NY USA
MAY 2008- Quadraphonic, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
*SEPTEMBER 2008- "Erika Fortner: New Paintings" Terra Gallery, Columbus, OH, USA
SEPTEMBER 2006- Pratt in Venice Group Show, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
SEPTEMBER 2006- Medium NYC- Emergency Arts in Chelsea, New York, NY, USA
NOVEMBER 2005- 31st Annual Holiday Show, Printmaking, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
OCTOBER 2005- Fall Group Show, Fine Arts Office, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
APRIL 2005- Merit Award Competition, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
APRIL 2005- Neighborhood Gallery Project, Peaches and Cream, Brooklyn, NY, USA
MARCH 2004- Equality Now - Domestic Affairs, Locus Media Gallery, New York, NY, USA
MARCH 2002- A Celebration of Women, Café on A, Oxnard, CA, USA
OCTOBER 1998- Into the Night, Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA, USA
JANUARY 1998- Human Form, Governors Office, Sacramento, CA, USA
AUGUST 1997- Student Thought, Cal Arts, Valencia, CA, USA
*AUGUST 1997- Dreams, The Daily Grind, Ventura, CA, USA

AWARDS (recent selections only)

May 2008 Pratt Circle- Distinction, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
May 2008 Liberal Arts Honors, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA
OCTOBER 2007- nAscent Art, New York, Curators Award, New York, NY, USA
2004-2008 President's List, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA

PRESS

OCTOBER 2009- Slow Art, Direct Art Magazine, Volume 16
AUGUST 2007 - nAscent Art Catalogue
JUNE 2007 - nAscent Art Catalogue
SEPTEMBER 2006- Medium NYC Exhibition Catalogue
MARCH 2004- Four pieces used in a horror film "Evil Eyes" created by The Asylum Production Company in Los Angeles, CA.
APRIL 2004- "The Back Alley Arts Magazine"- 8 paintings published