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.[1]
Erin M. Riley | |
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Born | 1985 (age 38–39) Cape Cod, MA |
Education | 2009 MFA: Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2007 BFA: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA |
Website | erinmriley |
Early life
editAs a middle child and an introvert, Riley spend much of her childhood alone doing hobbies like art and reading.[2] One of her biggest inspirations is Louise Bourgeois works and personal story, as well as Riley's own childhood and personal experiences.[2]
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
editRiley first learned how to sew in a Home Economics class in high school. Her quickly honed skills and instant attraction to the craft prompted her to receive her first sewing machine on her next birthday, which she still owns.[2] All of Riley's work Is created on a floor loom with wool hand dyed by Riley.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]
Her 2010 "Nudes" series[3] appropriates images posted to social media, which Riley has recreated in her medium.
...guns, syringes, bongs, vomit, sex, cars crashing, no topic is too much to be recreated on Erin’s loom.[4]
Her work was shown during the 2015 Art Basel Miami week at Miami Projects and the KITH Homage exhibit[5] concurrently. In 2013, Erin M. Riley was among eight women artists featured in Seattle-based Brian Ohno Gallery's exhibition entitled "Get Naked,"[6] 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.[7]
Artworks
editRiley creates tapestries based on her memories, fears, and past traumas to show the struggle of finding ones own identity.[8] 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.[9] Why Now? was displayed at a group exhibition show by Arsenal Contemporary Art New York called "Material Knowledge".[10]
Exhibitions
editExhibitions
- Art Basel Miami Beach: Meridians; P.P.O.W Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL, 2022[11]
- The Consensual Reality of Healing Fantasies, P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY, 2021[12]
- A Reminder of Being There, Jonathan Hopson Gallery, Houston, TX, 2020[13]
- Used Tape, P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY, 2018[14]
- Head On, Never Apart, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2017[15]
- Simple, Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, 2017[16][17][18]
- 18/bi/f/ma, Brilliant Champions, Brooklyn, NY, 2016[19]
- Anew, Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, 2016[20][21][22]
- Darkness Lies Ahead, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, 2015[23]
- The Pain Comes in Waves, OGAARD Gallery, Oakland, CA, 2014[24]
- Crimson Landslide, Space 1026, Philadelphia, PA , 2014[25]
- Undo, University of Wisconsin Gallery, Oshkosh, WI, 2013
- Show Me More, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA , 2013[26]
- Crush, Extension Gallery, Boston, MA , 2012[27]
- Forgotten in a File, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2012[28]
- 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[29]
- Daddy Issues, Helene Davis Gallery, Artspace, Richmond, VA, 2010
Awards
edit- Finalist, Burke Prize 2021, MAD Museum, New York, NY American Academy of Arts and Letters, Art Purchase Program United States Artists Fellowship, Craft, 2021[30]
- NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, Crafts/Sculpture, 2020
- Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant, New York, NY, 2012[31]
- 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[32]
- 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
edit- ^ Crawford, Marisa (8 June 2021). "With Astonishing Tapestries, Erin M. Riley Claims Space for Healing". Hyperallergic. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Artist Transforms Other People's Nude Selfies Into Woven Works Of Art (NSFW)". Huffington Post. 6 December 2017 [3 September 2013]. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Skidmore, Maisie (28 August 2013). "Art: Erin M. Riley's hand woven tapestries shine a new light on the nude selfie (NSFW)". It's Nice That. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Messinger, Kate (2 December 2015). "Art Basel Artist of the Day: Erin M. Riley". Paper. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Clemens, Gayle (13 September 2013). "In 'Get Naked,' artists take back control of the female image". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Nolan Brown, Elizabeth (25 October 2013). "When Naked Selfies Become Wall Art". Bustle. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "manifesto of fragility – A World of Endless Promise - Erin M. Riley". Biennale de Lyon. 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ Artist Talk with Erin M. Riley, retrieved 2023-05-24
- ^ "Material Knowledge". Artsy. 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "Art Basel Miami Beach Meridians - Erin M. Riley". P.P.O.W. Gallery. 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley - The Consensual Reality of Healing Fantasies". P.P.O.W. Gallery. 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "A Reminder of Being There". Johnathan Hopson Gallery. 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley - Used Tape". P.P.O.W Gallery. 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Head On". Never Apart. 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Martinique, Elena (22 February 2017). "The Provocative Textile Art of Erin M. Riley Coming to Hashimoto Contemporary". Widewalls. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley: "Simple"". San Francisco Art Dealers Association. 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley - 'Simple' | 4 - 25 March 2017". Hashimoto Contemporary. 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "18/bi/f/ma". Brilliant Champions Gallery. 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Chun, Kimberly (23 March 2016). "'Anew' artists use found images, objects to deal with fear, shame". SFGate. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley, Lucien Shapiro: 'Anew'". Hashimoto Contemporary. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley and Lucien Shapiro 'ANEW' - Hashimoto Contemporary // March 03, 2016 - March 26, 2016". Juxtapoz. 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Exhibitions - Erin M. Riley - Darkness Lies Ahead - May 7 to June 6, 2015". Joshua Liner Gallery. 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Erin M Riley, 'The Pain Comes in Waves' at Ogaard Textile Work". Oakland Art Enthusiast. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Crimson Landslide at Space 1026". Space 1026. 6 February 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley "Show Me More" – Private Preview « Guerrero Gallery". Guerrero Gallery. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Past Exhibitions - Crush - Pakayla Rae Biehn, Erin M Riley & Jason Andrew Turner". Extension Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "'Forgotten in a File' Erin M. Riley". Guerrero Gallery. April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley". Guerrero Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Erin M. Riley". Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 15 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "Winning Artists - Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation". Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ "Artists in Residence: Erin M. Riley: Fibers". McColl Center. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011.