Erin M. Riley (born 1985) is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work focuses on women and women's issues primarily in hand-woven hand dyed wool tapestries. Riley's work challenges society's comfort level by displaying shocking images including nudity, drugs, violence, self harm, sexuality, and menstruation.
Early life As a middle child and an introvert, Riley spent much of her childhood alone doing hobbies like art and reading. Her biggest inspirations are Louise Bourgeois's works and personal story.
She graduated with a BFA in fibers in 2007 from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and with a MFA in fibers in 2009 from Tyler School of Art.
Career Riley first learned how to sew in a Home Economics class in high school. Her attraction to the craft prompted her to receive her first sewing machine on her next birthday, which she still owns. All of Riley's work Is created on a floor loom with wool hand dyed by Riley. She utilizes social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr, gathering pictures she compiles into different folders coupled with research to create art for her exhibitions. She uses these images as a reference to create her tapestries directly from the computer rather than sketching the design on paper before hand; however, she does takes notes for each piece in a journal and her phone's notes. Her 2010 "Nudes" series appropriates images posted to social media, which Riley has recreated in her medium.
Her work was shown during the 2015 Art Basel Miami week at Miami Projects and the KITH Homage exhibit concurrently. In 2013, Erin M. Riley was among eight women artists featured in Seattle-based Brian Ohno Gallery's exhibition entitled "Get Naked," which focused on works relating to the female body and sexuality. Also in 2013, her work was shown at Philadelphia's Paradigm Gallery and the Joseph Gross Gallery at the University of Arizona.
Artworks Riley creates tapestries based on her memories, fears, and past traumas to show the struggle of finding ones own identity. One of Riley’s more popular tapestries is a work of art depicting a young woman sitting on the floor burning a photograph that appears to be her younger self surrounded by children's toys. The tapestry titled, Why Now?, was created in 2021. Such graphics of her sudden expression, had Riley's mother question “why now?” which was the inspiration of this tapestry. Why Now? was displayed at a group exhibition show by Arsenal Contemporary Art New York called "Material Knowledge".
Exhibitions Exhibitions Art Basel Miami Beach: Meridians; P.P.O.W Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL, 2022 The Consensual Reality of Healing Fantasies, P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY, 2021 A Reminder of Being There, Jonathan Hopson Gallery, Houston, TX, 2020 Used Tape, P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY, 2018 Head On, Never Apart, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2017 Simple, Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, 2017 18/bi/f/ma, Brilliant Champions, Brooklyn, NY, 2016 Anew, Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, 2016 Darkness Lies Ahead, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, 2015 The Pain Comes in Waves, OGAARD Gallery, Oakland, CA, 2014 Crimson Landslide, Space 1026, Philadelphia, PA, 2014 Undo, University of Wisconsin Gallery, Oshkosh, WI, 2013 Show Me More, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2013 Crush, Extension Gallery, Boston, MA, 2012 Forgotten in a File, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2012 Erin M Riley, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA, 2011 Graphic, Central Utah Arts Center, Ephraim, UT, 2011 Erin M Riley: New Works, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2010 Daddy Issues, Helene Davis Gallery, Artspace, Richmond, VA, 2010
Awards Finalist, Burke Prize 2021, MAD Museum, New York, NY American Academy of Arts and Letters, Art Purchase Program United States Artists Fellowship, Craft, 2021 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, Crafts/Sculpture, 2020 Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant, New York, NY, 2012 Vermont Studio Center Artist-in-Residence Full Fellowship, Johnson, VT, 2011 Artist-in-Residence at the McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Charlotte, NC, 2011 Kittredge Foundation Grant Recipient, Cambridge, MA, 2011 Best in Show, Radius 250, Artspace, Richmond, VA, 2009 Project Completion Grant, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2009 Graduate Academic Tuition Assistantship, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA, 2008 Graduate Academic Tuition Assistantship, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA, 2007 Marilyn Pappas Award, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA, 2007 Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation, Inc. Fiber Scholarship, Willet, NY, 2006 Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation, Inc. Fiber Scholarship, Willet, NY, 2005
References
External links official website