ABOUT THE ARTIST
Erik Otto is a painter, muralist, and mixed media artist working in NYC with commissions and collections placed around the world. His work is a colorful, glowing response to a life laced with loss, reunions, and recoveries. Erik Otto is here, now.
A San Francisco Bay Area native, Otto graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Illustration. His work is informed, to some degree, by his time in the Bay Area just as the Bay Area, to some degree, is informed by his work: his paintings grace the campuses of Google, Adobe, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Uber, AIA, Grand Hyatt, RedBull, and many others.
With natural forms that reference dream-like landscapes, fluid compositions that emphasize the ephemeral, and the occasional nostalgic glow of neon light, his artwork might not initially look like a response to a life peppered with deeply human hardships, but these vibrant combinations and outcomes have always been his reprieve.
In his early career, Otto challenged himself to live nomadically for five years while he grew his practice and client list. What would be unmooring for most was a sweet rhythm for him and the influence of that time still finds expression in his personal life as well as his ability to create collections of work and murals that rapidly adapt bare spaces into balanced environments.
In recent years, his work and material choices continue to evolve to create mass, texture, and light across a variety of surfaces. The visual weight and glow are an easy parallel to the cadence of his recent experience with sudden loss that propelled him into a life-long pursuit of transformation and renewal.
Just as we all are, Erik Otto is alive; he is here, now. And with that comes the opportunity for vibrant, ephemeral, and chromatic work.
ABOUT THE WORK
Whether it’s on canvas, murals, or custom installations, Erik Otto’s work is overflowing with an unpretentious vitality. His treatments of geometric forms among layers of sprays and organic paint washes invite the viewer closer to see details, line work, and choices up close. His line work often continues with neon lights installed to create further dimension hovering above or flowing off the canvas. Illuminated or not, Otto’s work glows.
Otto has added modern and classically fine art fresco materials to his recent works to create plaster and concrete forms both on the canvas and off. His dimensional applications create a sense of gravity in his work as well as offer space for new textures and light play.
The harmony of his choices in each work helps to root the vibrance that might otherwise feel shocking. His bright and bold color choices, even in works that are predominantly dark or meant to speak about the weight of our shared vitality, are patent to his artistic language. Otto’s work feels balanced and natural. These pieces are at once a reflection of his interior world and a space to alchemize new perspectives for the viewer.
SOLO & SPLIT EXHIBITIONS
2022
Heron Arts, San Francisco, CA, Alchemy
2020
Heron Arts, San Francisco, CA, Chromatherapy
2019
321 Canal Street (Wallplay), New York, NY, WAVES
2017
384 Broadway, New York, NY, From One Place to the Next
SummerSchool, San Francisco, CA, From One Place to the Next
2015
Luna Rienne Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Rising Sun
2014
Heron Arts, San Francisco, CA, Rising Tides
2013
Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada, In Search Of
ReUrbano, Mexico City, Mexico, Distancia
Luna Rienne Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Searching For Higher Ground
2012
933 Treat Studios, San Francisco, CA, A Full Days Work
2011
White Walls, San Francisco, CA, Project Room
2010
White Walls, San Francisco, CA, Tomorrow is Never Promised (1)
Fabric8, San Francisco, CA, Tomorrow is Never Promised (2)
Recology SF, San Francisco, CA, The Last Shall Be First
2009
Beta Lounge, Berkeley, CA, WORKS
Charmingwall Gallery, New York, NY, Silence Speaks Volumes
2008
Design Within Reach, Palo Alto, CA, Recent Works
The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA, The Sea of Change
Gallery Three, San Francisco, CA, The Calm Before the Storm
2007
The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA, A Long Way Home
Cal State San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, Rooted Dreams
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
Heron Arts, San Francisco, CA, Press On
American Giant, San Francisco, CA, The American Flag: Interpreted 2
2018
Joint Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, Pop & Street
Luna Rienne Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Quintessential
Brilliant Champions. Brooklyn, NY, Sum of All Parts
American Giant, San Francisco, CA, The American Flag: Interpreted
2017
South Street Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, All In
Heron Arts, San Francisco, CA, Together
Athen B Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2-Year Anniversary Show
2016
Prjct OMNI, Traverse City, MI, A Theory of Contemplation
The Yard, Brooklyn, NY, Recent Works (curated by Silence is Accurate)
Marin MOCA, Navato, CA, Waste Not
Athen B Galery, Oakland, CA, New Radius
Joseph Gross Gallery, New York, NY, Night & Day
Space236, San Francisco, CA, The Balance
2015
Athen B Gallery, Oakland, CA, CO-LAB
Inner State Gallery, Detroit, MI, Lyric III
Ampersand International Arts, Mexico City, Mexico, Carry On
2014
YBCA, San Francisco, CA, Bay Area Now 7
2013
SFO Museum, San Francisco, CA, The Art of Recology
Hyatt Regency Hotel, San Francisco, CA, Project Grand SF
Adobe Backroom Gallery, San Francisco, CA, We Had Nothing To Do And We Did It
Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA, PARADE
Asterisk Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Future Culture
2012
Fabric8, San Francisco, CA, Color Theory
Project One Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Symbols
Ace Museum, Los Angeles, CA, All in for the 99%
323 East Gallery, Detroit, MI, Lyric 2012
2011
Gallerie NeuroTitan, Berlin, Germany, Permaculture
Mallick Williams & Co., New York, NY, Spectrum
941 Geary Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Indoor Mural Project
Double Punch Gallery, San Francisco, CA, There is No Telling
Gallery Hijinks, San Francisco, CA, The Letter Collector
2010
Primary Flight / Art Basel Miami, Miami, FL, Fresh Produce
Katzen Art Center, Washington DC, Ghost Market x Catalyst
Re:Form School, New York, NY, Re:Form School
941 GEARY, San Francisco, CA, A New Beginning
Intersection For the Arts, San Francisco, CA, 45th Anniversary
Manifest Equality, Los Angeles, CA, Manifest Equality
White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Never a Dull Moment
Fabric8, San Francisco, CA, 1(4) Years
2009
The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Terrestrial Syndrome
Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA, Annual Benefit Show
Shadow’s Space, Philadelphia, PA, Climb in the Back Window
2008
Charmingwall, New York City, NY, Tiny Big Top Show
Reaves Gallery, San Francisco, CA, If These Walls Could Speak
2007
Project:Gallery, Culver City, CA, Head in the Trees
2006
Ayden Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Brave Art
Compound Gallery, Portland, OR, Supernal
Thinkspace, Los Angeles, CA, Square Foot Show
Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City, CA, Halloween Show
Thinkspace, Los Angeles, CA, Triamese
2005
The Lab 101 Gallery, Culver City, CA, The Birdhouse Show
Gallery Anno Domini, San Jose, CA, Fresh Produce
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2014
Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2013
ReUrbano, Mexico City, Mexico
2009
Recology San Francisco, AIR Program, San Francisco, CA
AWARDS & HONORS
2014
VSCO Artist Initiative, grant recipient
2011
SFAC Art in Storefronts, grant recipient
ARTIST LECTURES
2021
Artist Talk, Art 01, San Jose State University
CURATIONS
2023
Seed Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Between The Lines
2024
Seed Gallery, San Francisco CA, Spectrum
PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Grand Hyatt
San Francisco, CA
Google
Sunnyvale, CA
Andreessen Horowitz
San Francisco, CA / New York City, NY
Capital One
New York City, NY
Adobe Systems, Inc.
San Jose, CA
Glassdoor
San Francisco, CA
Microsoft Inc.
Seattle, WA
Cooper Steel
Nashville, TN
American Institute of Architects
San Francisco, CA
LinkedIn
Sunnyvale, CA / Omaha, NE
Martinkovic Milford Architects
San Francisco, CA
One Medical Group
San Francisco, CA
UBER Technologies
Palo Alto, CA
Lululemon
San Francisco, CA
Addepar, Inc.
New York, NY
Level 23
Oakland, CA
505 W 19th
New York City, NY
YARA Digital Labs
Berlin, Germany
Workshop Cafe
San Francisco, CA
Apothecarium
San Francisco, CA
