Erik Foss

About:

Erik Foss is a self-taught, American artist, born in Elgin, Illinois, in 1973. He was raised in the deserts just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. His early inspirations were fueled by the American cultural landscape, a religious upbringing, skateboarding, underground music and other elements from subcultures of the time.

In 1996, Erik relocates to New York City on Halloween where he soon finds community in downtown Manhattan night life, in the streets with local skateboarders, and in the DIY gallery scene. During this time, New York City has become a foundation of inspiration for his work that reflects to this day. Erik then became a founding partner of Lit Lounge / Fuse Gallery from 2002 - 2015. It’s here that they showed other artists while he continued to evolve within his own practices.

Erik has had eight solo shows and has been featured in countless group exhibitions in North America and internationally. He has also been included in two of the American Academy of Arts & Letters juried group exhibitions in which the academy purchased two significant canvas - one of which was placed in a major American Museum collection (Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art). Erik’s next exhibition is scheduled for February 2024 with Plan X gallery in Milan.

Awards / Museum:

  • The Dorsky Museum, Permanent Contemporary Painting Collection, 2025

  • American Academy of Arts & Letters on Audubon Terrace, The 2020 Invitational

  • Exhibition of Visual Arts, New York, NY, March 2020

  • The American Academy of Arts & Letters, Art Purchase Program, New York, NY, June 2012

  • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Induction to Permanent Collection, Scottsdale, AZ

  • The American Academy of Arts & Letters, Invitational Exhibition of Visual Arts, New York, NY

  • Pima Air and Space Museum, The Boneyard Project: Return Trip, Pima, AZ

  • Mesa Arts Center, Guitars and Handle Bars, Mesa, AZ, September 2011

Solo Exhibitions:

  • Carnival, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Japan, May 2023

  • Serpents & Rainbows, New Image Art, Los Angeles, CA 2021

  • Googleable, Los Angeles, CA, February 2020

  • The Harvest, Boo-Hooray, Montauk, NY, September 2018

  • Exorcism, Paul Loya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, June 2013

  • Avarice, Mallick Williams & Co., New York, NY, September 2011

  • Americanized, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Sweden, September 2010

  • Unseen On TV, Gallery 3, San Francisco, CA, November 2009

  • Smokem If You Gotem, Gallery 3, San Francisco, CA November 2008

Group Exhibitions:

  • The Hole NYC, Barry McGee - Cherry Picking, New York, NY, 2025

  • Ethan Cohen Gallery, Goodbye Horses, New York, NY, 2025

  • Club Rhubarb, I Was Only Dreaming, New York, NY, November 2023

  • Cellar Contemporary, SNAKES AND SHAPES, two-person exhibition with Solomostry, Italy, October 2023

  • Kaikai Kiki at Armory Art Fair, New York, NY, September 2023

  • Shin Gallery, Contemporary Approaches to Abstraction, two-person show with Aaron Wrinkle, New York, NY, March 2023

  • Aoút Gallery, Untitled, Beirut, Lebanon, September 2022

  • Cellar Contemporary, Works on Paper, Italy, August 2022

  • Mindy Solomon Gallery, Unearthed, Miami, FL, September 2021

  • No 53 Gallery, Summer Jobs, New York, NY, August 2020

  • Galleria C.O.A., Èchafaudage, July 2020

  • Watermill Foundation, 20th Annual Summer Benefit Auction, New York, NY, July 2020

  • Good Taste, curated by Paige Silveria, Los Angeles, CA, August 2019

  • Paul Loya Gallery, Wrinkles In Time, two-person exhibition with Joe Roberts, Los Angeles, CA, March 2016

  • PPP, None Of Us Is Greater Than Any Of Us, New York, NY, August 2013

  • Rox Gallery, Rock I Them, New York, NY, May 2013

  • Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Voice of a Generation, Sweden, 2012

  • Re:form Gallery, A Benefit Auction for Drug Reform Policy C24, New York, NY, November 2012

  • ALLDAYEVERYDAY, DILLIGAF, curated by Othelo Gervacio, New York, NY, October 2012

  • Watermill Foundation, 18th Annual Summer benefit Auction: Big Bang, New York, NY, July 2012

  • MISC., HEATWAVE, curated by Max Wolf and Meghan Carleton, New York, NY, August 2012

  • The Art Pop Up Shop, Show #4, New York, NY, June 2012

  • The Hole, Portraits of a Generation, New York, NY, July 2012

  • Anonymous Gallery, Art Music Success: Auction to Benefit the Bronx Success Academy, New York, NY, July 2012

  • American Two Shot, Group exhibition, New York, NY, March 2012

  • Max Fish, Bro Show, New York, NY, April 2012

  • Munch Gallery, Night, New York, NY, March 2012

  • Anonymous Gallery, Casa de Empeño, Mexico, February 2012

  • Guerrero Gallery, Nothing to Say, San Francisco, CA, January 2011

  • Space 15, Twenty Arts & Leisure, Los Angeles, CA, August 2011

  • Openhouse Gallery, Dear Japan, We Love You: Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Relief You, New York, NY, April 2011

  • Spencer Brownstone Gallery, Joy Ride, New York, NY, June 2011

  • West Cork Arts Center, Cutters, Ireland, February 2011

  • The Chelsea Chapter, Well Hung, New York, NY, March 2011

  • The Hole Gallery, Postermat, New York, NY, December 2010

  • Anonymous Gallery at SCOPE Art Fair, Miami, FL, December 2010

  • Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Winter Group Show, Sweden, December 2010

  • Subliminal Gallery, Wreck the Walls, New York, NY, December 2010

  • Max Fish, This Is Where We Get Off, New York, NY, November 2010

  • Dorian Gray, Sounds in the Distance, New York, NY, November 2010

  • The Hole Gallery, NOT QUITE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, New York, NY, June 2010

  • Perry Rubenstein Gallery, Shred, New York, NY, July 2010

  • Pool Gallery, Cutters, Berlin, Germany, May 2010

  • Anonymous Gallery, N’AP Boule: Benefit For The People Of Haiti, New York, NY, March 2010

  • Morono Kiang Gallery, Joy Ride, Los Angeles, CA 2010

  • White Box, Badlands, New York, NY, August 2009

  • Deitch Projects, Dash Snow Memorial Show, New York, NY, June 2009

  • Sloan Fine Art, +2, New York, NY, June, 2009

  • V1 Gallery, The New Yorkers, Denmark, May 2009

  • Participant, Inc., Yuko Sueta Art Auction Benefit, New York, NY, April 2009

  • Shooting Gallery at Armory: Scope, New York, NY, March 2009

  • White Walls Gallery, Winter Group Show, San Francisco, CA, December 2009

  • New Image Art, 14 Artists, Los Angeles, CA, November 2009

  • Asian Song Society (A.S.S.), I Want A Little Sugar In My Bow, New York, NY, August 2008

  • Shooting Gallery, Aqua Art Miami, Miami, FL, December 2008

  • O.H.W.O.W., IT AINT FAIR, Miami, FL, December 2008

  • Cinders Gallery, Move #16, New York, NY, May 2008

  • Anonymous Gallery, Piece Process, New York, NY, December 2008

  • Colette, Joy Ride, Paris, France 2007

  • Jonathan LeVine Gallery, 16th Annual Swap Meet, New York, NY, March 2007

  • Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, 8th Annual Salon Part 3, New York, NY, May 2005

  • CBGB’s 313 Gallery, Subculture, New York, NY, September 2000

Collectors:

Paul Sevigny

Shepherd Ferry

Zac Williams

Donna Lynn Patakos

Kelly Simone Waits

Patrick Carney

DB Burkeman

Ronnie Pirovino

Norman Reedus

Christian Serratos

Charles Churchward