Erica Stephens

Erica Stephens, Desire (after Langston Hughes), 2019
Artsy Page
Erica Stephens is an interdisciplinary artist who works with a focus on painting, as well as an author who has recently published her first collection of poetry. Her work strikes a balance between the political and the aesthetically beautiful and tends to be unapologetically personal and emotional.
During her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas she won the Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship for Excellence in the Arts was a founding member of The Oh6 Collective.
She completed her MFA at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California, where she was granted both the First and the Second Year Graduate Scholarships and was elected by her cohorts as the Class Marshal of the Otis MFA Class of 2007. During her time at Otis she indulged her passion for literature and regularly attended Graduate Writing workshops to hear visiting authors speak about their work.
Erica returned to Dallas in 2009 and began teaching art courses at various colleges in the area. She is now the head of the Art Appreciation program at Eastfield College, and takes great joy in teaching non-art majors how to approach looking at and thinking about works of art. She feels a deep sense of purpose from helping her students hone the soft skills found in studying the Humanities that are so critical to a full education and a full life.
Erica Stephens is an interdisciplinary artist who works with a focus on painting, as well as an author who has recently published her first collection of poetry. Her work strikes a balance between the political and the aesthetically beautiful and tends to be unapologetically personal and emotional.
During her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas she won the Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship for Excellence in the Arts was a founding member of The Oh6 Collective.
She completed her MFA at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California, where she was granted both the First and the Second Year Graduate Scholarships and was elected by her cohorts as the Class Marshal of the Otis MFA Class of 2007. During her time at Otis she indulged her passion for literature and regularly attended Graduate Writing workshops to hear visiting authors speak about their work.
Erica returned to Dallas in 2009 and began teaching art courses at various colleges in the area. She is now the head of the Art Appreciation program at Eastfield College, and takes great joy in teaching non-art majors how to approach looking at and thinking about works of art. She feels a deep sense of purpose from helping her students hone the soft skills found in studying the Humanities that are so critical to a full education and a full life.
Education
2005 – 2007 OTIS College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California (MFA)
2002 – 2004 University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas (BA)
1998 – 2001 Cedar Valley College, Lancaster, Texas
Teaching
2013 – current Eastfield College: Art Appreciation
2008 – 2014 University of Texas at Dallas: Drawing Foundations, 2-D Design
2008 – 2012 Art Institute of Dallas: Art Appreciation, 2-D Design, Perspective Drawing, Observational Drawing, Digital Imaging (Photoshop)
2010 – 2011 Dallas Can Academy Oak Cliff: Art 1, Practical Writing (ELA TAKS preparation)
2007 – 2009 Mountain View College: Art Appreciation, Drawing 1, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Sculpture, Advanced Design
2005 – 2007 Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, Teaching Assistant: Creative Practices, Frankfurt School
Exhibitions
2020 Paintings for a Lost Lover, Solo Exhibition at Ro2Art, Dallas, TX
2020 Back to the Future, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2019 collective | connection, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX. https://www.spiderwebsalon.com/dma
2019 CHAOS! 2019, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2019 Vignette Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2018 Critical Mass, SP/N Gallery at University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2018 Biophilia, North Haven Gardens, Dallas, TX
2018 CHAOS! 2018, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 Aspen Art Fair with Ro2Art, Aspen, Colorado
2018 SIDESHOW, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 The Women of Ro2, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2017 The Serpent is Come, Solo Exhibition at Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 CHAOS! 2017, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 Selections From The Back Room, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2016 CHAOS! 2016, small works show, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2016 MINISHOTS, Shamrock Studios, Dallas, TX
2016 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2015 Houston Contemporary Art Fair with RO2 Art, Houston, TX
2015 Chaos! 2015, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2015 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Luscious: Erica Stephens and Julon D. Pinksto,. RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Northern Exposure: Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas Visit Addison, Visit Addison Gallery, Addison, TX
2014 Chaos! 2014, RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2013 Cake for Cake’s Sake, Continental Gin Studios, Dallas, TX
2013 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2011 Group Show, Shamrock Hotel Studios, Dallas, TX
2010 Son of Trunk Show, Centraltrak, Dallas, TX
2010 Years of Living Dangerously, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009 Landscape. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009 Delineations. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009 EXPO: 500X Annual Juried Show. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 Dallas County Community College District Faculty Show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 Faculty Show, Mountain View Community College, Dallas, TX
2007 12 x 12. OTIS College of Art and Design, Graduate Campus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Otis MFA 2007, OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Kathrin Burmester, Sojung Kwon, Erica Stephens. OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Follow Up. sideSPACE, Pasadena, CA
2006 Stars on Vine. Aiden Riley Taylor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Otis MFA Mid-Residency Show, OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Con.TEXT.ual.,Oh6 Art Collective, Casket Factory, Dallas, TX
2005 Beaux Arts Auction, Fundraiser for the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2005 Mission: Control, Oh6 Art Collective, Angstrom Gallery, Dallas, TX
2005 Hooch and Pooch, McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2004 Home Maker, Solo Exhibition at University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2004 Super 8, Oh6 Art Collective, Kennedy Gallery, Southside on Lamar, Dallas, TX
2004 Well, Red, Oh6 Art Collective, Casket Factory, Dallas, TX
2004 Gym Candy, University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2003 Juried Student Art Exhibition, University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2001 New Texas Talent. Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX
Bibliography
2020 Reese, Christina and Blay, Christopher. “Top 5” www.glasstire.com Feb 2017
2019 Nunn, Brittany. “Artist Erica Stephens New Work is a Middle Finger to Art Scene Sexism.” Dallas Observer, 22 May, 2019.
https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/feminist-artist-fights-violence-against-women-through-imagery-11669195
2019 Stone, Rachel. “Fierce Females of Oak Cliff: Erica Stephens.” Oak Cliff Advocate, 20 June, 2019
https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2019/06/erica-stephens-you-dont-have-to-dogiant-things-to-be-effective/
2017 Reese, Christina. “Top 5” www.glasstire.com May 2017
2014 Smart, Lauren. “Luscious at RO2 Art is Dessert for the Eyes.” Dallas Observer, 23 September, 2014
2014 Anspon, Catherine D. “Art News.” Paper City Magazine. September 2014
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Oh6 Art Collective: Mission Control.” ARTL!ES.
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Con.Text.ual.” The Dallas Observer. 21 April 2005.
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Mission Control.” The Dallas Observer. 3 March 2005.
2004 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Super 8.” The Dallas Observer. 23 December 2005.
2004 Hepola, Sarah. “Eight is Great.” The Dallas Observer. 15 December 2004.
2004 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Well, Red.” The Dallas Observer. 28 October 2004.
Awards
2009 Best in Show, EXPO: 500X Juried Show 2009, Dallas, TX
2007 Class Marshal, MFA Class of 2007, Otis College of Art and Design
2006 Second Year Graduate Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design
2005 First Year Graduate Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design
2004 Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship for Excellence in the Arts, University of Texas at Dallas
2003 Juried Student Art Exhibition Award, University of Texas at Dallas
Education
2005 – 2007 OTIS College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California (MFA)
2002 – 2004 University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas (BA)
1998 – 2001 Cedar Valley College, Lancaster, Texas
Teaching
2013 – current Eastfield College: Art Appreciation
2008 – 2014 University of Texas at Dallas: Drawing Foundations, 2-D Design
2008 – 2012 Art Institute of Dallas: Art Appreciation, 2-D Design, Perspective Drawing, Observational Drawing, Digital Imaging (Photoshop)
2010 – 2011 Dallas Can Academy Oak Cliff: Art 1, Practical Writing (ELA TAKS preparation)
2007 – 2009 Mountain View College: Art Appreciation, Drawing 1, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Sculpture, Advanced Design
2005 – 2007 Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, Teaching Assistant: Creative Practices, Frankfurt School
Exhibitions
2020 Paintings for a Lost Lover, Solo Exhibition at Ro2Art, Dallas, TX
2020 Back to the Future, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2019 collective | connection, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX. https://www.spiderwebsalon.com/dma
2019 CHAOS! 2019, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2019 Vignette Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2018 Critical Mass, SP/N Gallery at University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2018 Biophilia, North Haven Gardens, Dallas, TX
2018 CHAOS! 2018, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 Aspen Art Fair with Ro2Art, Aspen, Colorado
2018 SIDESHOW, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 The Women of Ro2, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2018 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2017 The Serpent is Come, Solo Exhibition at Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 CHAOS! 2017, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2017 Selections From The Back Room, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2016 CHAOS! 2016, small works show, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2016 MINISHOTS, Shamrock Studios, Dallas, TX
2016 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2015 Houston Contemporary Art Fair with RO2 Art, Houston, TX
2015 Chaos! 2015, Ro2 Art, Dallas, TX
2015 Dallas Art Fair with RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Luscious: Erica Stephens and Julon D. Pinksto,. RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Northern Exposure: Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas Visit Addison, Visit Addison Gallery, Addison, TX
2014 Chaos! 2014, RO2 Art, Dallas, TX
2014 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2013 Cake for Cake’s Sake, Continental Gin Studios, Dallas, TX
2013 Art Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2011 Group Show, Shamrock Hotel Studios, Dallas, TX
2010 Son of Trunk Show, Centraltrak, Dallas, TX
2010 Years of Living Dangerously, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009 Landscape. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009 Delineations. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009 EXPO: 500X Annual Juried Show. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 Dallas County Community College District Faculty Show, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 Faculty Show, Mountain View Community College, Dallas, TX
2007 12 x 12. OTIS College of Art and Design, Graduate Campus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Otis MFA 2007, OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Kathrin Burmester, Sojung Kwon, Erica Stephens. OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Follow Up. sideSPACE, Pasadena, CA
2006 Stars on Vine. Aiden Riley Taylor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Otis MFA Mid-Residency Show, OTIS College of Art and Design, Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Con.TEXT.ual.,Oh6 Art Collective, Casket Factory, Dallas, TX
2005 Beaux Arts Auction, Fundraiser for the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2005 Mission: Control, Oh6 Art Collective, Angstrom Gallery, Dallas, TX
2005 Hooch and Pooch, McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2004 Home Maker, Solo Exhibition at University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2004 Super 8, Oh6 Art Collective, Kennedy Gallery, Southside on Lamar, Dallas, TX
2004 Well, Red, Oh6 Art Collective, Casket Factory, Dallas, TX
2004 Gym Candy, University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2003 Juried Student Art Exhibition, University of Texas at Dallas, Main Gallery, Richardson, TX
2001 New Texas Talent. Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX
Bibliography
2020 Reese, Christina and Blay, Christopher. “Top 5” www.glasstire.com Feb 2017
2019 Nunn, Brittany. “Artist Erica Stephens New Work is a Middle Finger to Art Scene Sexism.” Dallas Observer, 22 May, 2019.
https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/feminist-artist-fights-violence-against-women-through-imagery-11669195
2019 Stone, Rachel. “Fierce Females of Oak Cliff: Erica Stephens.” Oak Cliff Advocate, 20 June, 2019
https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2019/06/erica-stephens-you-dont-have-to-dogiant-things-to-be-effective/
2017 Reese, Christina. “Top 5” www.glasstire.com May 2017
2014 Smart, Lauren. “Luscious at RO2 Art is Dessert for the Eyes.” Dallas Observer, 23 September, 2014
2014 Anspon, Catherine D. “Art News.” Paper City Magazine. September 2014
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Oh6 Art Collective: Mission Control.” ARTL!ES.
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Con.Text.ual.” The Dallas Observer. 21 April 2005.
2005 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Mission Control.” The Dallas Observer. 3 March 2005.
2004 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Super 8.” The Dallas Observer. 23 December 2005.
2004 Hepola, Sarah. “Eight is Great.” The Dallas Observer. 15 December 2004.
2004 Terranova, Charissa N. “Capsule Reviews: Well, Red.” The Dallas Observer. 28 October 2004.
Awards
2009 Best in Show, EXPO: 500X Juried Show 2009, Dallas, TX
2007 Class Marshal, MFA Class of 2007, Otis College of Art and Design
2006 Second Year Graduate Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design
2005 First Year Graduate Scholarship, Otis College of Art and Design
2004 Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship for Excellence in the Arts, University of Texas at Dallas
2003 Juried Student Art Exhibition Award, University of Texas at Dallas