About the Exhibit:
Inspired by Erica's trip to India to meet her family for the first time, "Connection" explores what it means to come home: home to those who share your blood, and home to yourself. Featuring 15 unreleased oil paintings, the work invites you into the space to feel seen and cherished for who you are and where you come from. In a time when human connection has been so limited, Erica hopes her work reminds us that there is still beauty in the world if we pause and take a moment to see it.
About Erica Prasad:
Erica Prasad is an Indian-American painter whose work depicts the beauty of the ordinary and the way a space, person or landscape makes her feel. Primarily working with oil on canvas, her pieces are created with an expressive style that leans toward realism while exploring the magic of color that can only be achieved through oil paint.
Inspired by Erica's trip to India to meet her family for the first time, "Connection" explores what it means to come home: home to those who share your blood, and home to yourself. Featuring 15 unreleased oil paintings, the work invites you into the space to feel seen and cherished for who you are and where you come from. In a time when human connection has been so limited, Erica hopes her work reminds us that there is still beauty in the world if we pause and take a moment to see it.
About Erica Prasad:
Erica Prasad is an Indian-American painter whose work depicts the beauty of the ordinary and the way a space, person or landscape makes her feel. Primarily working with oil on canvas, her pieces are created with an expressive style that leans toward realism while exploring the magic of color that can only be achieved through oil paint.
A Note From the Artist
Hello Dear Friends,
I cannot believe the day is finally here! What started as a somewhat arbitrary goal grew into one of the most meaningful journeys of my creative life. At the end of 2020 I set a goal of creating 15 paintings and hosting my first solo show by Fall 2021. I had started Bank of the Ganga before moving to Austin in September 2020 and little did I know it would become the inspiration for this whole series. One year later, here we are sharing this space together! To say I am grateful for the journey would be an understatement. So to begin, I’d like to share a bit about where the series comes from and then my hope for this show.
In 1965, my grandmother packed up her life and left her family in India to be with my grandfather who had moved to the United States. She left with my father, who was two months old, and moved to a place where she did not speak the language in hopes of securing a better future. Fifty years later, I traveled to India to meet my extended family for the first time. The experience of sharing tears, food, and hugs with women I had just met is impossible to put in words. It was amazing to see the love that can be shared between humans who barely know one another, yet recognize we share a piece of the same story. I believe this story is one that many individuals can relate to: a story of passage, a story of family, and a story of love.
This series titled “Connection” explores what it means to come home. These women and their stories have shaped me in ways I cannot fully comprehend, yet I recognize the strength of my grandmother and the love shared across oceans is not unique. It is an integral part of the immigrant experience and one that deserves to be shared.
Ultimately, I believe art should celebrate the ordinary. The people who have gone through incredible challenges and still show up everyday for their community. I hope it opens doors to a world that may feel like a different universe or feel like coming home. If this art can create even a moment of connection or a space for people to feel cherished for who they are, then it has done its job. Thank you for being here and being a part of this journey.
With Love, Erica
I cannot believe the day is finally here! What started as a somewhat arbitrary goal grew into one of the most meaningful journeys of my creative life. At the end of 2020 I set a goal of creating 15 paintings and hosting my first solo show by Fall 2021. I had started Bank of the Ganga before moving to Austin in September 2020 and little did I know it would become the inspiration for this whole series. One year later, here we are sharing this space together! To say I am grateful for the journey would be an understatement. So to begin, I’d like to share a bit about where the series comes from and then my hope for this show.
In 1965, my grandmother packed up her life and left her family in India to be with my grandfather who had moved to the United States. She left with my father, who was two months old, and moved to a place where she did not speak the language in hopes of securing a better future. Fifty years later, I traveled to India to meet my extended family for the first time. The experience of sharing tears, food, and hugs with women I had just met is impossible to put in words. It was amazing to see the love that can be shared between humans who barely know one another, yet recognize we share a piece of the same story. I believe this story is one that many individuals can relate to: a story of passage, a story of family, and a story of love.
This series titled “Connection” explores what it means to come home. These women and their stories have shaped me in ways I cannot fully comprehend, yet I recognize the strength of my grandmother and the love shared across oceans is not unique. It is an integral part of the immigrant experience and one that deserves to be shared.
Ultimately, I believe art should celebrate the ordinary. The people who have gone through incredible challenges and still show up everyday for their community. I hope it opens doors to a world that may feel like a different universe or feel like coming home. If this art can create even a moment of connection or a space for people to feel cherished for who they are, then it has done its job. Thank you for being here and being a part of this journey.
With Love, Erica
Erica's Family
The Paintings
The Way Back, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 48x60in.
$3,600
Oil on Canvas, 48x60in.
$3,600
To Be Seen, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650, SOLD.
To Be Loved, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450, SOLD.
To Be Present, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x36in.
$1,750, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 24x36in.
$1,750, SOLD.
Bank of the Ganga, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x36in.
$1,750, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 24x36in.
$1,750, SOLD.
Contemplation, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450, SOLD.
Play, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450 at Austin City Hall
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450 at Austin City Hall
A Return, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450
In the Streets, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450
Oil on Canvas, 24x30in.
$1,450
To Be Home, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650
An Offering, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650
Oil on Canvas, 16x20in.
$650
The Place We Were Made I, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 30x40in.
$2,400
Oil on Canvas, 30x40in.
$2,400
The Place We Were Made II, 2021.
Oil on Canvas, 30x40in.
$2,400, SOLD.
Oil on Canvas, 30x40in.
$2,400, SOLD.
How to Enjoy the Show
One of the most common questions I receive is what am I supposed to do at an art show? The good news is- there is no right answer! You can simply browse around, check out the pieces up close or far away, chat to a neighbor or enjoy some quiet contemplation. The outline below is just a recommendation- optional questions to ask yourself or those around you to guide you through the show. If it sounds fun, try it out but if you’d rather just soak it all in, know that is great too. This is your experience and this guide is here to help you have the best possible time in the space. You don’t have to answer each question for every piece- maybe pick 2-3 per painting and discuss! However you decide to experience it, know that we support you and are so glad you are here.
One of the most common questions I receive is what am I supposed to do at an art show? The good news is- there is no right answer! You can simply browse around, check out the pieces up close or far away, chat to a neighbor or enjoy some quiet contemplation. The outline below is just a recommendation- optional questions to ask yourself or those around you to guide you through the show. If it sounds fun, try it out but if you’d rather just soak it all in, know that is great too. This is your experience and this guide is here to help you have the best possible time in the space. You don’t have to answer each question for every piece- maybe pick 2-3 per painting and discuss! However you decide to experience it, know that we support you and are so glad you are here.
- Which piece immediately jumps out at you? How did it make you feel?
- Does the work evoke a certain mood?
- What was your first reaction to this artwork? Why do you think you had the reaction?
- Who do you think was this artwork created for? Why do you think the artist created this work?
- What’s the story being told? What is the meaning or message?
- Does it bring back a memory? Does it make you think of something else?
- Does your opinion about the artwork change the longer you look at it? Why?
- How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen?
- Close your eyes and describe the artwork from memory. Why did you remember what you remembered?
- What adjectives would you use to describe this artwork?
- What do we know about the artist after viewing this artwork?
- If you could ask the artist a question, what would you ask her? Go ask her!
- How do you think the artist was feeling when she created this artwork?
- What is the title? How does the title contribute to your understanding of the meaning? What title would you give this artwork?
- How might your interpretation of this artwork be different from someone in another culture?
- Which piece now sticks out that you’ve had time to look at each closely?
- Do you feel different since you entered the space?
- Share your answers with a neighbor!
