Erica Hauser

My colors are inspired by vintage materials, old crayons, textiles, toys. I used to paint in a more representative way, depicting the actual objects, the signs and buildings. Over the past few years, I started abstracting those shapes and colors, and started to try to get at the idea of the memories that I actually had, being in a space like a roller rink or playroom; patterns on juice glasses and beach towels.

I’d been stacking shapes in my work for some time before I made the connection to my longtime job as a firewood stacker. The way I fit the pieces together, balancing them, supporting against each other, or about to fall, but never quite. And then the shapes became a way to explore color combinations.

I use acrylic paint, a lot of color mixing, layers, in person you might see the texture of the canvas or wood, shapes are smooth edged but a little messy. Vibrant and murky colors side by side. I love trying to get the look of layers of old paint on the side of a building or a piece of furniture. Where you can read the surfaces. You can see ridges of paint strokes, or you see the grain beneath, so the paintings become tactile like the sculptures.

I realized that my most recent paintings represent an aspect of who I am and where I am. Both a more optimistic side of myself, as well as the wistful side of me that longs for something I can’t describe. When I painted vintage cars or phone booths, I was interested in the nostalgia one might feel for something they can’t quite remember themselves, but can appreciate the object (or image of it) that suggests a memory. I could find great pleasure in looking at such a thing.

The process of painting deepened my experience of the subject, and sometimes brought me a story that a viewer would share. Moving to an abstract representation of these ideas was a natural progression in my work. I am finding my personal connection to what I make, linking a formal approach to an emotional, expressive one.

2002
BFA, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1998-99
Art Students League, New York, NY

1996-97 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

The Other Art Fair Los Angeles, Virtual Edition and Online Studios
(view at www.saatchiart.com/studios/theotherartfair/los-angeles and my own page here)

The Renaissance of Resilience, 3 person show, Grit Gallery, Newburgh, NY (through March 13)

Salon Exhibition 2021, Robin Rice Gallery, New York, NY (through April 30, view at robinricegallery.com)

Indian Summer, group show at La Plage, Sag Harbor, NY

Terrain Biennial Newburgh, site specific outdoor installation. 'Colorgarden', at Newburgh Urban Farm (through 2021)

Beacon 3D, outdoor sculpture. 'Chromatic Substation No.1', collaboration with Jon Reichert. Beacon, NY (through early 2021)

(Selected Recent)
2020
Rock Wood Paper Scissors, group exhibition, Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY
Fall Salon, group exhibition, Robin Rice Gallery, New York, NY
House Party: Paintings by Erica Hauser, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
20/20 Vision, group exhibition, Holland Tunnel Gallery, Newburgh, NY

2019
Transit, group exhibition, Krasdale Galleries, West Harrison, NY
Celebrating Color, group exhibition, Womenswork.art, Poughkeepsie, NY
'Explorations In Form' CMA Gallery, Mount St Mary College, Newburgh, NY
'Far & Wide National' Woodstock Artists Assoc & Museum, Woodstock, NY

2018-2017
'Spectrum Gestalt 5', bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
'Memento', Concourse A Gallery, Albany International Airport, Albany, NY
Far & Wide', juried by Bruce Weber. Woodstock Artists Assoc & Museum, Woodstock, NY
Chocolate. A Group Show, Catalyst Gallery, Beacon, NY
Winter Gala: Black & White, Teran Studio, Newburgh, NY

2016
Artist & Maker Exhibition, juried by Kelly Schroer, Newburgh, NY
Dotted Dream Scenic Byway, Oak Vino, Beacon, NY (solo)
WORD, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY
Road Trip, Gallery Underground, Arlington, VA

2015
'Dispatches From Eternity', Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY
February, Edward Hopper House, Nyack, NY (solo)
'American Dream', Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown, NY
Coffee and Donuts Show, Catalyst Gallery, Beacon, NY

2014
Small Matters of Great Importance, Edward Hopper House, Nyack, NY
Narcissism and the Self-Portrait, Ann St Gallery, Newburgh, NY
Famous For 12 Inches, Castle Fitzjohns Gallery, New York, NY
Line Forms Here, Catalyst Gallery, Beacon, NY

2013
'Art Of The Heirloom: 2014 Seed Art Packs', Anvil Gallery, Kingston, NY
'A Horse, Of Course', ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY
Artists in Residence, Erpf Gallery, Catskill Center, Arkville, NY
NYFA 'MARK' Artists, Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY
Retro Car and Art Show, Cornell St Studios, Kingston, NY
April Small Works, Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, Woodstock, NY

2012
Drive-By Gallery at Lift Trucks Project, Croton Falls, NY (solo)
Hudson Beach Glass Gallery, Beacon, NY (solo)
Road Trip, TastySpace Gallery, Las Vegas, NV (solo)