Erica Mao American, b. 1994

Erica Mao is best known for her atmospheric layered paintings that stitch together disparate spaces into alternate realities. Depictions of desolate Americana landscapes explore the feelings of fear, tension, and suspense and depict characters as they weave their way in and out of the narrative. Mao has exhibited in galleries such as International Print Center New York and Madison Park Gallery. Awards include a Keyholder Residency at Lower East Side Printshop, the Leroy and Janet Neiman Award at the Leroy Neiman Center for Print Studies, and the Glasier Fellowship at Columbia University. Born in Maryland, Mao attended Parsons School of Design and received her BFA in 2016. She is currently a candidate for her MFA in Visual Arts at Columbia University. She lives and works in New York City.