Artist Statement
Painting is an inherently spiritual quest for me- a seeking to understand my place in the world and the way I can use my work to make a positive difference. I delve into themes of identity and belonging, exploring the ties that bind us and the emotions that make us human. I am inspired by the resilience of the body and the capacity each of us holds to carry on even in the face of immense hardship.
I create my work in a series, often based on a singular theme that I apply a microscope to in order to explore the depth and nuance fully. Often studying experiences from my own life, but created weeks or even years later, I carefully filter real imagery through the surreal landscape of my own memory.
As a child, I was fascinated by my parent’s medical magazines in the bathroom. My parents were both medical practitioners and everyone expected me to become a doctor. Although I felt a desire to help heal those around me, my journey toward pursuing this took me in an unexpected direction.
Becoming an artist happened organically- moments tuning inward, encouragement from my community and decisions to be brave led me down the path to pursue art. As my practice developed, I found the body consistently became my greatest inspiration. The figure to me is representative of our physical connection to the ecosystem around us. As Neil deGrasse Tyson writes,
“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.”
The anatomical body has become a framework for me to explore the way our physical nature carries the story of every person and experience that has come before us. Studying its parts allows me to depict the resilience of the human spirit and our place in a world that we are inextricably connected to. We exist entirely in the moment as our very cells continually turn over, yet our bodies become a living vessel carrying the history of our experiences.
I believe my role as an artist is not to tell the viewer how to think but to give them questions to think upon. The person I was when the inspiration came is not the person I am when I create the work, nor is she the same when the work is shared with the world. Capturing the fleeting nature of it solidifies that emotion in time and welcomes the viewer to step in and place themselves within the narrative. The art then becomes a testament to the fact that we existed, that our stories and our moments mattered. Ultimately, my work is a beacon of hope and an effort to foster dialogue that imagines a more understanding and expansive world.
I create my work in a series, often based on a singular theme that I apply a microscope to in order to explore the depth and nuance fully. Often studying experiences from my own life, but created weeks or even years later, I carefully filter real imagery through the surreal landscape of my own memory.
As a child, I was fascinated by my parent’s medical magazines in the bathroom. My parents were both medical practitioners and everyone expected me to become a doctor. Although I felt a desire to help heal those around me, my journey toward pursuing this took me in an unexpected direction.
Becoming an artist happened organically- moments tuning inward, encouragement from my community and decisions to be brave led me down the path to pursue art. As my practice developed, I found the body consistently became my greatest inspiration. The figure to me is representative of our physical connection to the ecosystem around us. As Neil deGrasse Tyson writes,
“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.”
The anatomical body has become a framework for me to explore the way our physical nature carries the story of every person and experience that has come before us. Studying its parts allows me to depict the resilience of the human spirit and our place in a world that we are inextricably connected to. We exist entirely in the moment as our very cells continually turn over, yet our bodies become a living vessel carrying the history of our experiences.
I believe my role as an artist is not to tell the viewer how to think but to give them questions to think upon. The person I was when the inspiration came is not the person I am when I create the work, nor is she the same when the work is shared with the world. Capturing the fleeting nature of it solidifies that emotion in time and welcomes the viewer to step in and place themselves within the narrative. The art then becomes a testament to the fact that we existed, that our stories and our moments mattered. Ultimately, my work is a beacon of hope and an effort to foster dialogue that imagines a more understanding and expansive world.
"What day is it?"
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
About Erica
Erica Prasad is an Indian-American painter from Jefferson City, MO who works in oil to depict worlds both familiar and surreal. She graduated from Saint Louis University in 2017 with degrees in Studio Art, Theology and International Relations. The intersection of her studies is apparent in her work- she seeks to portray the intimate ties that bind humanity and the extraordinary hidden in the seemingly mundane.
In September 2021, she exhibited her first solo show “Connection: A Story of Returning Home” and followed it one year later with her second solo show “Liminal Space.” She recently participated in her first Artist Residency in Watamu, Kenya in September 2024 and is excited to release a new body of work in Spring 2025. She has been based in Austin, TX pursuing art full time since 2020.
You can find more of her work on her website EricaPrasad.com or her Instagram @EricaPrasadArt.
In September 2021, she exhibited her first solo show “Connection: A Story of Returning Home” and followed it one year later with her second solo show “Liminal Space.” She recently participated in her first Artist Residency in Watamu, Kenya in September 2024 and is excited to release a new body of work in Spring 2025. She has been based in Austin, TX pursuing art full time since 2020.
You can find more of her work on her website EricaPrasad.com or her Instagram @EricaPrasadArt.