Lisa Ericson’s hyperrealistic paintings represent an unusual symbiosis of land and marine life. A single frame encompasses the diversity of the natural world, showing rabbits, squirrels, and bears, coexisting with fish, corals, and flowers in a small space.
Ericson’s works present the viewer with a lot to unpack. In one way, they can be perceived as commentary on the current environmental issues, where the rising sea levels are threatening to bring together land and marine life together. In another, they are surreal scenes that allow the viewer to step into the world of magic realism.
Then, there is a way Ericson sees them.
“I think of the animals in my paintings as simultaneously representing the natural world and also reflecting our own human struggle and emotion,” she explains. “I like to draw parallels between the two.”
Speaking about her inspiration for the works, the Portland, Oregon artist explains that she will often hear something about a particular scientific or environmental phenomenon, and the discovery might lead to a whole new series of works.
“My ideas are often science-inspired, but with a surreal twist,“ she shares.
Ericson’s works are often featured in Portland’s galleries, and you can also check them on her website and Instagram.
