Bio
Erika b Hess is a painter, Artistic Director of Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution and creator 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). Recent group exhibitions include First Street Gallery, NYC, NY; Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; MASH Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Contemporary Art Matters, Columbus, OH; and Bomb Factory, London, England.
Hess has been featured in various publications, including Art New England, ArtScope, AllSHEMakes, Boston University CFA Alumni Magazine, and Visionary Art Magazine, among others. Hess has curated and juried many 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. She frequently lectures at colleges and universities, including Wellesley University, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, The University of Montana, 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:
2026 Upcoming Exhibition- University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
2025 Between Worlds Studio Break Gallery, Chicago, IL
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:
2026 Shared State, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
2025 Harmony, Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, NY
2025 Mythology/Matriarchy, The Middle Room Gallery, L.A., CA
2025 Belonging: The Long Island City Studio Collective, Contemporary Art Matters & LIC Studio, Columbus, OH/Long Island City, NY
2024 Simpatico, Strohl Art Center, Chautauqua, NY
2024 Continuum, CVA School of Art Gallery, Chautauqua, NY
2024 Something Big, Something Small, 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
2026 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, University of North Carolina Asheville, April 2026
2026 Artist Lecture, Arkansas Tech University, January 2026
2025 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, American University, Washington D.C. April 2025
2025 Artist Lecture, Boston University, March 2025
2025 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, Toledo University, Toledo, OH
2025 Artist Lecture, Pratt Institute, February 2025
2025 Visiting Art Lecture, Columbus College of Art & Design, February 2025, Columbus, OH
2024 Visiting Critic, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA. May 2024
2024 Artist Lecture, CVA Lecture Series, Chautauqua Institution, July 2024
2024 Artist Lecture, Pratt Institute, March 2024
2023 Visiting Artist Lecture and Critic: Ohio State University, MFA Department, Columbus, OH
2023 Artist Lecture: Boston University, Print Media & Photography MFA
2022 Visiting Artist Lecture and Critic, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
2022 Artist Lecture, NYC Crit Club, June 2022
2022 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, Marietta College, Marietta, OH April 2022
2022 Visiting Artist and Critic: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, March 2022
2022 Artist Lecture, NYC Crit Club, March 2022
2022 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, March 2022
2021 Artist Lecture, Kenyon College, March 2021
2021 Visiting Artist and 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, Hastings College, March 2020
2019 Visiting Artist Lecture, Eastern Michigan University, Oct 2019
2019 Visiting Artist and Artist Lecture, 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
2011 Visiting Artist Lecture: Return to the Rustbelt, Stivers School for the Arts, OH
2010 Visiting Artist Lecture: Paintings from 2003-present, Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ
2009 Exhibiting Artist Lecture: Free, Boston University, MA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023-present Sydelle Sonkin and Herb Siegel Artistic Director of Chautauqua Visual Arts
2026 Juror, Eastern Michigan University Drawing Biennial, Michigan
2026 Curator, Warne Contemporary, New York, NY
2025 Juror, Marshall University Annual Juried Exhibition, West Virgina
2025 Speaker, Experience Communities: Artist Residencies, SCOPE Art Fair, Miami, FL
2025 Curator, SOA Gallery, Chautauqua, NY
2024 Panelist, Artist Conversation with Bridgette Mayer, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Curator, I Spy a May Queen, Contemporary Art Matters
2022 Panelist, Creatives Who Mother, Missoula Museum of Art, Missoula, MT
2022 Podcast Interview, Women United Art Podcast
2022 Curator, Perfect Imperfection, Women United Art
2022 Curator, A Long Line, Gallery 263
2022 Curator, Finding a Memory, Piano Craft Gallery
2022 Curator, Perfect Imperfection, Women United Art
2022 Curator, BHG Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2021 Panel Moderator, Motherhood in the Arts, SCOPE Art Fair, Miami, FL
2021 Panelist, The State of the Arts, moderated by John Seed, John Natsoulas Gallery, CA
2021 Curator, Build It, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
2021 Curator, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA
2021 Curator, StudioVisit Podcast Professional Competition
2021 Curator, Arts to Hearts Online Exhibition
2021 Curator, Create Magazine, Online Exhibition
2020 Curator, Redefining Portraiture, Visionary Art Collective
2019 Juror, Studio Break Podcast MFA/BFA Edition
2019 Juror, Friend of the Artist Publication, Volume 9
2019 Published Interview with Artist Jasmine Zelaya, Friend of the Artist, Volume 9
2019 Guest Curator, Dayton Society of Artists Member Exhibition, OH
2019 Curator, Be. Long., Dutoit Gallery
2018 Panelist, What to Do with a BFA, Wright State University
2018 Panelist, Creative Capital: Building Collaborative Art Spaces, Boston University
2018 Juror, Walker Prize, Boston University, Boston, MA
2018 Curator, Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2018 Curator, M+2, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2017 Founding Member, MUSA Collective, Boston, MA
2016 Guest Juror, Boston University MFA Walker Prize
2016 Curator, Dayton Visual Arts Center Biennial Call for Exhibitions, Dayton, OH
2015 Visiting Artist, Painting I, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2015 Juror, Boston University MFA Walker Prize
2014 Panelist, Feminism Now: Exposing the Truth, Cleveland Institute of Art and The Sculpture Center, OH
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Studio Break Podcast, “Erika b Hess on Between Worlds”, interview accompanying solo exhibition, September 2025
New Chautauqua Visual Arts director Erika b Hess joins Chautauqua Women’s Club to discuss navigating the art world, The Chautauquan Daily, July 8, 2024
Making Peace With Your Strength, New Visionary Magazine, Issue 7, Visionary Art Collective, digital publication, 2024, https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/magazine/p/new-visionary-magazine-issue-7-digital
In Favor of the Slow Look, New Visionary Magazine, Issue 10, Visionary Art Collective, digital publication, 2024, https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/magazine/p/new-visionary-magazine-issue-10-digital
Contemporary Art Matters, Featured Artist Profile: Erika b Hess, online gallery feature, 2024
WSU grad named artistic director at world-renowned Chautauqua enclave, Dayton Daily News, November 9, 2023
Erika b Hess Named Artistic Director of Chautauqua Visual Arts, Chautauqua Institution press release, September 18, 2023
“Creatives on Mothering, Money and Time”, Montana Kaimon, October 13, 2022
“Gallery 310 to Feature Hess at Marietta College”, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, January 21, 2022, online
Phases, Dear Artists, Accompanying Book to the Exhibition 2021
Boston University CFA Magazine Bostonia, “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 SHE Makes, Featured Artist, February 2020
The Savvy Painter Podcast, Art Podcasts: Reflections and Lessons Learned, August 8, 2019
Pretty Girls Making Cool Shit Blog, May 2019
Jim Hannah, Wright State University News Room, Artfully Done, March 8, 2019
Studio Break Podcast, Erika b Hess, December 28, 2018
Seek the Joy Podcast, The Power of Storytelling, December 18, 2018
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, Exhibitions: Defrost the Cake at Piano Craft Gallery, Image-“Edge of the World”, January/February, 2018
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 publication, May/June, 2017
Charles River Journal, painting, “Pink Moon”, reproduced in publication, August 2017
Root & Star, drawings, “Hands Hello, Hands Goodbye” printed in publication, May/June, 2017
Hollow: Volume III, paintings from “The Flower Bearers” reproduced in publication, July, 31, 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
Online Interview, Fresh Paint Magazine: Studio Visit, October 24, 2014
Fresh Paint Magazine, Issue V, featured artist, October 2014
“Erika B Hess AUTO RESPOND: Out of the Office a Solo Exhibition” Curatorial Collective: Contemporary Art & News Reviews, August 5, 2014
West, Kate, “Out of the Office- A Solo Exhibition by Erika B Hess”, Stamps School of Art & Design News, University of Michigan, 2014
Usmani, Josh, “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
Maynard, Mark, “Ypsilanti Immigration Interview: Erika Hess”, Mark Maynard Blog, 2013
Ritz, Stacey, “Dayton’s Open House: Urban Nights Highlights Urban Living, Art, Food and Fun”, Dayton City Paper, 2013
West, Kate, ”MOCAD: Post-Industrial Complex”, Stamps School of Art & Design News, 2013
Rappaport, Nina, Exhibition Catalogue “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
Territories Exhibition Catalog, Untitled Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2011
Nardi, Davide, “Contemporary Art Returns to BU” Boston U Today, 2008
RESIDENCIES/GRANTS/AWARDS
2026 Ohio Arts Council Artist Opportunities Grant
2024 Greater Columbus Arts Council Grant Recipient
2022 Greater Columbus Arts Council Grant Recipient
2014 Residency, Micro Art Space, Cleveland, OH
2011 Feast Mass Grant Recipient
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA
MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH