Erika Stearly - Contemporary, Impressionist Painter

Erika Stearly

A lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, Erika Stearly has spent over a decade capturing the essence of domestic spaces in her paintings. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of sources—from vintage home remodeling magazines and the IKEA catalog to photos of friends' homes, sublet rental ads on Craigslist, and, Instagram—Stearly's artwork is a vivid exploration of the environments we inhabit.

Employing a blend of watercolor and acrylic paint, Stearly begins each painting with a quick sketch of the setting. Her approach, though loose and exaggerated, manages to evoke a strong sense of place through her distinctive use of bright colors and playful renderings. Titles often reference street addresses or the names of the inhabitants, grounding the abstract elements in a specific reality.

Stearly's artwork is a testament to her belief that contemporary realities are multifaceted enough to support multiple approaches to painting. Her paintings fuse representational imagery with abstraction, celebrating the materiality and mark-making that defines her style. The result is a romanticized portrayal of domestic spaces, where the beautiful clutter of everyday life is elevated through the interplay of abstraction and representation. This duality invites viewers to craft their own narratives, imagining the stories behind the scenes.

Stearly's recent paintings, including "Sun Valley Kitchen no. 201" (2023), have been highlighted in the art world for their ability to evoke a strong sense of place despite their loosely rendered and exaggerated forms. This unique style has been a consistent theme in her artwork, providing viewers with a fresh perspective on ordinary domestic scenes. Stearly's paintings, which weave together elements of fiction and autobiography, have been exhibited internationally. Her artwork has been recognized with numerous artist grants, including those from the Puffin Foundation and the Black Rock Arts Foundation for her interactive 2013 installation, Take a Painting. She has also received Fellowships and Residencies at Wilson College, Kutztown University, and Penn State University, where she once taught undergraduate painting. A graduate of Kutztown University (BFA, 2009) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (MFA, 2014), Stearly continues to explore the complexities of domestic spaces and the narratives they hold.