Erica Soskin

Artist Statement

Erica Soskin, Artist's Statement

The theme of searching for connection and place is central in my work. Making art is my way of expressing what I cannot put into words. This process began early on in my childhood. I have a vivid imagination, often picturing very colorful images and scenes in my mind. I think this stems partly from being adopted at birth, as I would imagine who my birthparents were, where they might be, and what they might look like, making up stories in my mind. From that longing and searching, I created characters and places. And my search for identity, place, and belonging has been a prominent theme in my art, often painting fragmented figures and dreamlike environments reflecting my search. I am primarily an oil painter. My process starts with a vision or an emotion, creating like the waves of the ocean, flowing, ebbing. I prefer to use vivid colors, layers of thick paint, curves, and lines. In my works, I immerse figures within their environments, as the human form is not separate from the environment. Environments influence how we connect and feel. As humans, we tend to manipulate our environments, creating and sadly, destroying. The search for a peaceful open and quiet environment is a personal theme for me as I was born and raised in New York City, but moved to New Mexico in 2000, seeking refuge from the crowds and noise. In nature, I feel calm, and quiet. Amidst the crowded city, full of people, I may feel energized, but overwhelmed. I sought refuge from the lack of personal space and privacy when I left New York City to move to New Mexico.
I am primarily a figurative painter, but I also paint very abstract landscapes, both inner roadmaps, and external landscapes. I paint universal themes of human suffering, transcendence, connection, joy, isolation, and the soul. I paint what is hard to name, the ethereal, a gesture to convey emotion, the spiritual realm. Every piece is a part of my journey, conveying the many paths I have walked. In my works, I offer the viewers a chance to connect and interact. My hope is that my art will help others to not feel so alone in this world, to find their “home”, their place and environment that resonates with them.
-Erica Soskin