About Erica
Erica Prasad is a modern-day storyteller, weaving narrative through vibrant strokes of oil paint and emotion-provoking installations. Originally from Jefferson City, Missouri, her artistic journey began as a search for meaning. Growing up as an Indian-American girl in a small town made her curious about the world outside, instilling a desire to travel from a young age. She first explored new worlds in her studies at Saint Louis University, graduating in 2017 with a BA in Theology, International Studies and Studio Art. After graduating, she backpacked the world for three transformative years before finding her home under the warm sun in Austin, Texas.
Guided by her nomadic spirit and insatiable curiosity, Erica’s work draws inspiration from the humans and spaces encountered in her life and travels. The images she portrays are deeply personal, yet her work is a familiar landscape. It is a testament to the universal language of human emotion and connection.
Erica unveiled her first solo exhibition “Connection” in September 2021. It was her first experience sharing a body of work profoundly hers- one that told the story of her family and the journey they took to immigrate from India to the United States. Building upon this creative energy, she continued to push the boundaries with “Liminal Space,” her second solo show in September 2022. Featuring an immersive eight-piece painting installation alongside six oil paintings on canvas, she welcomed the viewer into a sacred emotional space often hidden away. Exploring the themes of love and loss, she invited the viewer to step into her grief, allowing vulnerability to be our collective healer.
Erica's art is a transformative experience that draws viewers to journey past the visual, to inhabit worlds both familiar and surreal. With a commitment to art that ignites her soul, she endeavors to create work that challenges our perceptions of vulnerability and celebrates the beauty inherent in our shared human experience.
Guided by her nomadic spirit and insatiable curiosity, Erica’s work draws inspiration from the humans and spaces encountered in her life and travels. The images she portrays are deeply personal, yet her work is a familiar landscape. It is a testament to the universal language of human emotion and connection.
Erica unveiled her first solo exhibition “Connection” in September 2021. It was her first experience sharing a body of work profoundly hers- one that told the story of her family and the journey they took to immigrate from India to the United States. Building upon this creative energy, she continued to push the boundaries with “Liminal Space,” her second solo show in September 2022. Featuring an immersive eight-piece painting installation alongside six oil paintings on canvas, she welcomed the viewer into a sacred emotional space often hidden away. Exploring the themes of love and loss, she invited the viewer to step into her grief, allowing vulnerability to be our collective healer.
Erica's art is a transformative experience that draws viewers to journey past the visual, to inhabit worlds both familiar and surreal. With a commitment to art that ignites her soul, she endeavors to create work that challenges our perceptions of vulnerability and celebrates the beauty inherent in our shared human experience.
"What day is it?"
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
Artist Statement
I capture tender moments of ordinary life. My work is a contemplative exploration of the intimate ties that bind us, reminding us of our shared humanity. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, but often painted weeks or years after they have occurred, I carefully filter real imagery through the surreal landscape of imagination and my own memory.
The foundation for my work stems from an insatiable curiosity for why things are the way they are. I typically create art in a series, applying a microscope to a singular experience, place or feeling, in order to process its complexity fully. The color palette often reflects the emotional resonance of the experience and I like to choose subjects that wrap the viewer in an embrace of familiarity. This is in hope that my work encourages the viewer to unearth their own personal narratives and embark on an introspective journey alongside my own.
The foundation for my work stems from an insatiable curiosity for why things are the way they are. I typically create art in a series, applying a microscope to a singular experience, place or feeling, in order to process its complexity fully. The color palette often reflects the emotional resonance of the experience and I like to choose subjects that wrap the viewer in an embrace of familiarity. This is in hope that my work encourages the viewer to unearth their own personal narratives and embark on an introspective journey alongside my own.