Erik Barthels (b. 1980, Lake Charles, LA)

I create vivid abstractions that harness the power of chance to explore color and form. My work is quickly rendered and improvisational, despite it being rooted in hard edged geometry. Using squeegees as my primary painting tool, I aim to harness concentrated energy. Utilizing a pared-down vocabulary of forms, the ways in which these shapes shift and rotate are playful and curious. I’m interested in making loosely sequential images that echo the disjointed and time-specific color palettes of cultural ephemera. Through abstraction and collage, I explore my relationship with memory, music history, and the changing environment.

Group Exhibitions 

2022 Louisiana Contemporary, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA

2019 Spectrum, presented by Uprise Art and Artsy, New York, NY

2017 BOW, presented by Uprise Art at Midway Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Art Fairs

2022 Art on Paper, presented by Uprise Art, New York, NY

2019 INK Miami, presented by Pele Prints, Miami, FL

Press

2022 New American Paintings, South issue

Uprise Art - works available

Contact: erikbarthels@gmail.com