Erika Givens

ERIKA'S BACKGROUND •

Erika Givens, a contemporary mixed media artist living and working in San Diego, California, grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with a fascination for drawing, creating elaborate Lego cities and towns for her Hot Wheel cars. Focused on becoming an urban planner, she graduated from UC Santa Barbara (in Environmental Studies/Political Science) but the pull toward art eventually lead her to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. After graduating, she landed at the Nokia Design Center in Los Angeles to work as a Senior Graphic Designer for the Asia Pacific region. She later moved on to other creative pursuits at various design firms in the Bay Area. Then in 2004, she ventured out on her own and launched GLEAUX (pronounced *glow*), a custom San Francisco-based stationery and invitation design studio.

After relocating to San Diego in 2012 along with her husband Chad, and three young children, Luke, Reid, and Brooklyn, she transitioned her studio from graphic design to creating mixed media wall sculptures. Over time, she’s managed to build a uniquely personal portfolio of artwork that has found its way into distinguished galleries, international art shows, a handful of world class hotels and private ...

ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN | Pasadena, Ca | 1996-1999 | BA Graphic Design/Packaging

ACADEMY OF ART COLLEGE | San Francisco, Ca | 1996. | Post Baccalaureate Graphic Design

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF ART | Washington D.C. | 1995-1996. | Graphic Design

UC SANTA BARBARA | Santa Barbara, Aa | 1990-1994 | BS Environmental Studies/Politcal Science

La Jolla Gallery | Solo Exhibition “Organic Expressions | 2019 | curated by Elizabeth King

Sparks Gallery | San Diego, Ca. | Summer 2020 | Minis Exhibit | curated by Sonya Sparks