Artist Erica Brown attended Cairn University from 1999 to 2000. At the age of 18, she was not quite sure what she wanted to do with her life, but she knew that she wanted to learn about and grow in her faith. At the end of her freshman year, she had a strong desire to go to art school and had a conversation with the then-dean of undergraduate education, Dr. Todd Williams.
“I knew he loved art,” Erica shares. “He knew me, and I had great respect for his opinion. He encouraged me to follow my calling in art, one of the few who did so at the time. I’ve been grateful for his encouragement ever since.”
When Erica was approached about displaying her artwork on campus, she jumped at the chance. “How wonderful
to go back to where my pursuit of art began. Coincidentally, my work over the past year has been reflective of the experiences I’ve had since that time.”
Her artist statement for her exhibit, “Tribute,” is as follows:
In my studio, I wrestle with my paintings as I try to express emotions from my life experiences. I aim to convey the raw feelings of my struggles contrasted with light and hope. I am inspired by the broken and forgotten things I observe around me. Images of such things often find their way into my work, but recently, I have begun to use them more specifically. Seemingly random objects that have personal significance are used in my “Reliquary” series. The remains of my
beloved garden have become the foundation of my “Odes.” Photographs of abandoned structures that intrigue me are the basis of my “Lost” series. I identify with these broken and abandoned things. I have felt alone, fallen into sin, and faced great struggles, but God has continually met me in His grace and the knowledge of His greater purposes for my life. I long to show the beauty in the struggles of life. These paintings are a confession of experiences and a tribute to God’s faithfulness.
Erica graduated with a BFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, with an concentration in painting and drawing. She currently lives in West Chester, PA, where her studio is located. To learn more about Erica or view her artwork, visit her website at ebcbrown.com.