Erika Arett

My art emerged infused with magical realism and surrealism. These are not styles that I consciously pursued as an artist and art historian; instead they appeared fully formed as I worked. These, with my lifelong affinity with ancient art, appeared when I allowed myself to flow with spontaneous creation and improvisation. I also strive for strong contemporary relevance by looking at revered elite institutions, places and social realities from an alternative and even humorous view. I do not provide the viewer with answers or explanations as to the credibility of the image. Instead, I want my art to be specific enough to engage the viewer and provocative enough to let them recall moments, places, questions and emotions from their own lives. In order to uncover life’s hidden and significant purposes, many of my works are layers of places and figures on multiple planes of reality. I find myself cropping and using unexpected angles to make physical orientation difficult and the work somewhat abstract. Additionally, I have consistently used vivid, unexpected color combinations to convey psychological and emotional conditions. Most of all, I love life’s exuberant drama; the constantly changing peak moments we all experience. I am attempting to catch the actual and imaged present moment with as much sensory overload as I can compose.