aboutus
Erika b Hess is a painter, curator, writer, and host of the art podcast I Like Your Work. Hess’s work has been exhibited nationally including in NYC, Brooklyn, Detroit, L.A., Boston, and Philadelphia. Recent solo exhibitions include Marietta College (Marietta, OH) and MUSA Collective (Boston, MA). Recent group exhibitions include Contemporary Art Matters (NYC, Columbus, and Artsy) BHG Gallery (Canada), Co-Worker Gallery (Toledo, OH), and The Yard (Brooklyn, NYC).
She has been featured in various publications including Boston University CFA Alumni Magazine, Art New England, ArtScope, AllSHEMakes, and Visionary Art Magazine. Hess has curated and juried exhibitions, publications, and awards including Create Magazine, Friend of the Artist, Cambridge Art Association (Cambridge, MA), Gallery 263 (Cambridge, MA) AllSheMakes, Arts to Hearts, Riffe Gallery (Columbus, OH), and she has served on panels at SCOPE (Miami), Cleveland Institute of Art, and Boston University and frequently lectures at colleges such as Wellesley University, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Missouri State University, Eastern Michigan University, and many others.
Hess maintains an active studio practice in Columbus, OH, and in Long Island City in New York where she keeps a selected inventory of work. She is represented by Contemporary Art Matters in Columbus, OH.
Hess received her MFA from Boston University.
erikabhess@gmail.com
b 1982
Education:
2009 Boston University, Master of Fine Art, Boston, MA
2006 Wright State University, Bachelor of Fine Art, Dayton, OH
Represented by Contemporary Art Matters, Columbus, OH
Solo Exhibitions:
2022 How Long Has It Been Since You've Been Outside, Marietta College, Marietta, OH
2018 Love Letters From The Edge of the World, Wanderlife Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Viewing Light, Main Hall, Newton Free Library, Newton, MA
2017 The Line Between the Past and the Present, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2014 AUTO RESPOND: Out of the Office, Micro Art Space, Cleveland, OH
Group Exhibitions:
2023 (upcoming) Bridgette Mayer Gallery , Philadelphia, PA
2023 Nocturne, First Street Gallery, NYC, Curated by Susanna Coffey
2023 I Spy A May Queen, Contemporary Art Matters, Columbus, OH
2023 In Her Element, MASH Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Art Palm Beach+Contemporary Fair, Booth 815, Palm Beach, FL
2021 Flat File 2021 Exhibition, Peep Space, Tarrytown, NY
2021 Summer in the City, Curated by Contemporary Art Matters, Artsy/NYC
2021 Born Free Live Wild, Brandi Hoffer Gallery, Canada
2021 Phases, Dear Artists, Online Gallery
2020 Summer Group Exhibition, Contemporary Art Matters, Columbus, OH
2020 Conjuror, Dayton Society of Artists, Dayton, OH. (Three Person Exhibition)
2019 Extra Equinox, Co-Worker Gallery, Toldeo, OH. Curated by Jordan Buscher.
2019 Indoor Voices, The Yard, Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Kirstin Lamb.
2019 humanfigure, Hess Gallery, Pine Manor College, Newton, MA. Curated by Carolyn Wirth.
2019 Vision and Verse, Wilson Gallery, Anderson University, IN
2018 Let's Dance, Basement Projects, CA
2018 M+2, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2018 Defrost the Cake, Piano Craft Gallery, MA
2018 Drawing from Perception VII, Wright State University, OH. Juried by Catherine Kehoe
2017 Resist, Hess Gallery, Pine Manor College, MA. Curated by Carolyn Wirth
2017 Juried 2017 Alumni Exhibition, Wright State University, Dayton, OH. Juried by David Leach, Penny Park , and John Dickinson
2017 Origin Story, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2016 The Space After, The Sherman Gallery, Boston University, MA (three-person exhibition)
2016 Framework, Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA
2015 COLORED MUD: A Painting Exhibition, Fenway Studios, Boston, MA. Curated by Kayla Mohammadi
2015 Feelers, Mills Gallery at Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA. Curated by Susan Metrican
2015 Gravity, I Fell Gallery, Bloomington, IN. Curated by Abbigail Israelsen
2015 Drawing Project 2015, Hallspace, Boston, MA
2014 Convergence, 808 Gallery, Boston University, Boston, MA. Curated by Andrea Champlin
2014 After Hours, President’s Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
2014 Eco Myths, Last Projects, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Rachid Bouhamidi
2014 TEMP, Riverside Art Center, Ypsilanti, MI. Curated by Chris Sandon
2013 Can I Get a Witness, Tejas Gallery, Dayton, OH (two-person exhibition)
2013 RANSOM, Wayfarers, Brooklyn, NY
2013 The Bitters: Fuck It, Whitdel Gallery, Detroit MI. Curated by Stephen Schudlich
2013 Road Trip, Work Gallery: University of Michigan, Detroit, MI. Curated by Stephen Schudlich
2012 While the Cat Was Away, Work Gallery: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2012 Distillations, Tejas Gallery, Dayton OH. Curated by Rebecca Sargent
2011 Material Witness, Shircliff Gallery, Vincennes University, Vincennes IN. Curated by Joseph Holsapple
2011 Territories, Untitled Gallery, Marwen, Chicago IL. Curated by Julia V. Hendrickson
2011 Tompkins Projects West: Works on Paper, Dan Graham, Los Angeles, CA
2010 Keep the Home Fires Burning, Fowler Arts Collective, Brooklyn, NY
2010 Off the Wall, Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY
2010 MayDay! MayDay!, CCCP Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Kiss My Heart, The Sherman Gallery, Boston, MA (two-person exhibition)
2009 Boston Young Contemporaries, Boston, MA
2009 Boston University MFA Thesis Show, Boston, MA
2009 Sustainability, Rubin-Frankel Gallery, Boston, MA
2008 Boston Young Contemporaries, Boston, MA
ARTIST LECTURES
2023 Visiting Artist Lecture and Studio Visits: Ohio State University, MFA Department, Columbus, OH
2023 Artist Lecture: Boston University, Print Media & Photography MFA
2022 Visiting Artist Lecture and Studio Visits, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
2022 Artist Presentation, NYC Crit Club, June 2022
2022 Visiting Artist Lecture, Marietta College, Marietta, OH April 2022
2022 Artist Presentation and Studio Visits: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, March 2022
2022 Visiting Artist, NYC Crit Club, March 2022
2022 Visiting Artist Lecture and Studio Visits, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, March 2022
2021 Visiting Artist Lecture, Kenyon College, March 2021
2021 Visiting Artist Lecture, Missouri State University, March 2021
2020 Visiting Artist Lecture, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, October 2020
2020 Visiting Artist Lecture, Marietta College, September 2020
2020 Visiting Artist Lecture, Hasting College, March 2020
2019 Visiting Artist Lecture, Eastern Michigan University, Oct 2019
2019 Visiting Artist Lecture and Studio Visits, Wellesley College, MA, April 25, 2019
2019 Visiting Artist Presentation-New Media Incubator at Wright State University, OH, April 19, 2019
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture: Wright State University, OH
2017 Exhibiting Artist Lecture: Musa Collective, Boston, MA
2016 Visiting Artist Lecture & Studio Visits: Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Painting 2
2014 Visiting Artist Lecture & Studio Visits: Cleveland Institute of Art, OH
2010 Visiting Artist Lecture: Paintings from 2003-present, Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2023 Curator: Contemporary Art Matters, I Spy a May Queen, July 2023
2022 Curator: Women's United Art, Perfect Imperfection, May 2022
2022 Curator, Gallery 263, A Long Line, September 2022
2022 Curator, Piano Craft Gallery, Finding a Memory, September 2022
2022 Guest Curator, Perfect Imperfection, Women United Art, May 2022
2022 Guest Curator, BHG Gallery, Toronto, CA, May 2022
2021 Guest Curator: Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA July 2021
2021 Curator: Build It- Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
2021 Guest Curator: StudioVisit Podcast Professional Competition, December 2021
2021 Guest Curator: Arts to Hearts Online Exhibition, December 2021
2021 Guest Curator: Create Magazine, Online Exhibition
2020 Guest Curator: Visionary Art Collective: Redefining Portraiture, October 2020
2019 Guest Curator: Dayton Society of Artists Member's Show, OH, September 2019
2019 Curator: Be. Long., Dutoit Gallery, November 2019
2018 Curator: Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2018 Curator: M+2, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2016 Guest Curator: Dayton Visual Arts Center Biennial Call for Exhibitions, Dayton, OH
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 Visiting Professional Artist, Visionary Arts, August 2023
2022 Podcast Interview, Women United Art Podcast, June 2022
2021 Panel Moderator: Motherhood in the Arts, SCOPE Art Fair, Miami, December 2021
2021 Panelist, The State of the Arts, moderated by John Seed: John Natsoulas Gallery, CA, March 2021
2019 Juror: Studio Break Podcast MFA/BFA Edition, September 2019
2019 ChaPublished Interview with Artist Jasmine Zelaya, Friend of the Artist, Volume 9
2019 Juror, Friend of the Artist Publication Volume 9
2018 Panelist, What to do with a BFA, Wright State University, November 15, 2018
2018 Panelist, Creative Capital: Building Collaborative Art Spaces, Boston University, September 22, 2018
2018 Juror, Walker Prize, Boston University, Boston, MA
2017 Founding Member of Musa Collective, Boston, MA
2016 Guest Juror: Boston University MFA Walker Prize
2015 Visiting Artist: Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Painting 1
2015 Guest Juror: Boston University MFA Walker Prize
2014 Panelist: Feminism Now 2014: Exposing the Truth. Cleveland Institute of Art and The Sculpture Center, OH
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Phases, Dear Artists, Accompanying Book to the Exhibition
Boston University CFA Magazine, “PODCASTERS ERIKA B. HESS, OF I LIKE YOUR WORK, AND ERIKA BLOCK, OF INSIDE THE NOTES, ON THE ART OF STORYTELLING”, EDITED BY MARA SASSOON, Summer 2020
all SHE makes, Featured Artist, February 2020
Also Gallery, Inhabit, curated by Mar Hester, September 2019
The Savvy Painter Podcast, Art Podcasts: Reflections and Lessons Learned, August 8, 2019
Jim Hannah, Wright State University News Room, Artfully Done, March 8, 2019
Studio Break Podcast, Artist Erika b Hess, 2019
Pleat Gallery, Studio Visit: Erika b Hess, July 10 2018
Against Darkness, Ali Znaidi, Cover Art- Pink Moon, Pen & Anvil Press, 2018
Boston Voyager Magazine, "Meet Artist Erika Hess", April 3, 2018
Art New England, January/February 2018, Exhibitions, Image-"Edge of the World" Defrost the Cake, Piano Craft Gallery
Boston Voyager Magazine, "Meet Erika Hess, Julia Von Metzsch Ramos and Crislin Meshberg Waldman of Musa Collective in Allston", November 13, 2017
Root & Star, digital work printed in the publication, May/June 2017
Create Magazine, Artist Highlight, 2016
Hollow: Volume III, paintings printed in the publication, July 31, 2016
Moray Mair, "Erika Hess' Paintings From 'The Flower Bearers' Rooted in Fauvist Tradition", MutantSpace, April 1, 2016
John Seed and Didi Menendez, Poets and Artists, 50 Memorable Painters 2015, December 2015
Erin Huber, Artist Interview: Erika Hess, MAP: Mother Artist Project, December 15, 2015
Fresh Paint Online Interview, Magazine, Studio Visit, October 24, 2014
Featured Artist, Fresh Paint Magazine, Issue V, October 2014
"Erika B Hess AUTO RESPOND: Out of the Office a Solo Exhibition" Curatorial Collective: Contemporary Art & News Reviews, August 5, 2014
Kate West, "Out of the Office- A Solo Exhibition by Erika B Hess", Stamps School of Art & Design News, University of Michigan, August 2014
“It Figures: Local Artists Unite at 78th St Studios,” Cool Cleveland, August 2014
West, Kate, "Erika Hess: Feminism Now", Stamps School of Art & Design News, University of Michigan, 2014
“Microfunding Making Its Way To The Mainstream”, Entrepreneur Brew, March 10, 2014
“CIA Co-Sponsors Feminism Exhibition, Talk, Symposium”, Cleveland Institute of Art News, March 12, 2014
Ritz, Stacey, "Dayton's Open House: Urban Nights Highlights Urban Living, Art, Food and Fun", Dayton City Paper, 2013
Kate West,"MOCAD: Post-Industrial Complex", Stamps School of Art & Design News, 2013
Rappaport, Nina, "Post-Industrial Complex" MOCAD, 2013
Weider-Roos, Kath, "Life on the Road: Self-Portraiture", PLAY Gallery, 2012
Pelly, Liz, “How Microfunding is Feeding the Creative Economy", Boston Phoenix, 2012
Nardi, Davide, “Contemporary Art Returns to BU” Boston U Today 2008
RESIDENCIES/GRANTS/AWARDS:
2022 Greater Columbus Arts Council Grant Recipient
2014 Residency, Micro Art Space, Cleveland, OH
2011 Feast Mass Grant Recipient, Boston, MA
2009 Constatin Alajalov Scholarship Recipient
2008 Constatin Alajalov Scholarship Recipient
2005 Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Art Scholarship Recipient
2004 Residency, Chautauqua Institute, NY
2004 Chautauqua Scholarship to Study in New York
2001-05 Arts Gala Scholarship Recipient