Colores de mi Cultura
Erin Lees
The main purpose of my paintings is to share my South American culture through the use of high intensity colors. These colors represent our loud and exotic nature which includes but not limited to our food, music, clothing, and landscapes. All go back to my ancestors, where patterns were especially important in the articles of clothing that they wore. I have chosen to paint different patterns that I have obtained over the years given from my family members and when I stayed in Colombia for periods of time. Each article reminds me of memories from my childhood and it gives me a sense of comfort when I look at them.
I wanted to exhibit these works because I have a strong passion for painting and I want to share my love of art with others. However, the paintings are better viewed in the real world because texture, dimensions, touch, and color are very important to the human eye. With that being said, even though they are being shown virtually in an online exhibition because of COVID, I want to show that virtual aspect of my paintings as images.
Mis Memorias, 2020, oil on canvas, 30” x 48”
Auto Retrato, 2020, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
Flores con mi Cartera, 2020, Oil on canvas, 30” x 48”
Aguardiente Y Colores, 2020, Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
Colores en el Piso, 2020, Oil on canvas, 30” x 48”
Rosario 1, 2020, Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
Rosario 2, 2020, Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
Coaster, 2020, Oil on canvas, 16” x 16”
Poncho, 2020, Oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
Oranges, 2020, Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
Erin Lees
TYL Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM BFA, ‘23
iamerinlees.com
My name is Erin Lees, and I am a Hispanic artist who loves to paint. I’m a BFA major in Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM and will be graduating in 2023 from Tyler School of Art and Architecture. I am from Montgomery County, PA. My family comes from Colombia and Ecuador.
Painting has given me stress relief and it has also taught me about paying attention to detail. With that experience, I have developed a passion for metals because of the intricate work involved. Art is funny in a way because it represents people's characteristics. It is determined by so many different things which makes each piece and artist unique.
When I was a little girl, my aunt took me to a Frida Kahlo exhibit and after that experience, Frida Kahlo influenced my art. I read all about Frida Kahlo and little by little, art became my world. Frida motivated me to gain more knowledge about the idea of art. Another important artist who I look up to for inspiration is Matisse and Picasso. Picasso’s cubist ideas and Matisse’s intense colors have a huge impact on my work.
Everybody on this earth has something that is unique about them and even though I was an infant when I went to Colombia for the first time, it is still an influential moment in my life. I went to Colombia every year soon afterwards. As I got older, I have come to a realization that I am completely obsessed with Hispanic culture and I want to include that love in my work. In the future, I would like to use art in my career. I want to learn new techniques and how to communicate my feelings in a more concrete way. As I have grown older, my love for art has never faded, it only became stronger. Painting is a part of who I am and I need to constantly hold a paint brush in order to continue to grow.