ABOUT THE ARTIST

Erika Fortner began her training and career at the innovative and internationally 
renowned California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA, where she attended the 
CSSSA (California State Summer School for the Arts- Innerspark) honors art program 
awarded to the top artists in the state. During that time, she received various 
awards including the Seal of California, Honorable Mentions from the U.S. Senate, 
and also participated in an elite show held in the office of the Governor in 
Sacramento, CA. After leaving California, Erika attended the highly respected 
Pratt Institute of Fine Arts. There she was recognized on the President’s List 
and included in many collegiate shows. For more than 8 years, Erika has 
collaborated in various exhibits and single female artist shows in Southern 
California, and more recently in Brooklyn, NY. Some of her works have been 
published in the Back Alley Arts Magazine which is associated with names like 
the Museum of Fine Art, The Guggenheim, and The Whitney Museum of American Art. 
Furthermore, a collection of her paintings have debuted in a 2004 film released 
under The Asylum Production Company. Currently, Erika is painting out of Brooklyn, 
and works part time in Harlem for Julie Mehretu as a Finish Consultant and 
Artist Assistant.



SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

AUGUST 1997- “Dreams”, The Daily Grind, Ventura, CA


SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITS

JANUARY 1998- “Human Form”, Governors Office, Sacramento, CA


GROUP EXHIBITS

SEPTEMBER 2006- Pratt in Venice Group Show, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 
SEPTEMBER 2006- Featured artist, Medium NYC- Emergency Arts in Chelsea, New York, NY 
NOVEMBER 2005- 31st Annual Holiday Show, Printmaking, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 
OCTOBER 2005- Fall Group Show, Fine Arts Office, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 
APRIL 2005- "Merit Award Competition", Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
APRIL-MAY 2005- "Neighborhood Gallery Project", Peaches and Cream, Brooklyn, NY 
MARCH 2004- “Equality Now - Domestic Affairs”- A piece donated for auction to benefit 
             women’s rights, Locus Media Gallery, New York, NY. 
MARCH 2002- “A Celebration of Women”, Café on A, Oxnard, CA 
OCTOBER 1998- “Into the Night", Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA 
AUGUST 1997- “Student Thought”, Cal Arts, Valencia, CA


PUBLICATIONS

SEPTEMBER 2006- Exhibition Catalogue for fall 2006 
MARCH 2004- A film debut with the film titled "Evil Eyes"- Four pieces used in a 
horror film created by The Asylum Production Company in Los Angeles, CA.
APRIL 2004- "The Back Alley Arts Magazine"- 8 paintings were published in the April 
2004 of this online publication associated with names such as Simon & Schuster Publishing, 
The Museum of Fine Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and 
the Forest Scott Gallery.


CURRENT AFFLIATIONS
 
Finish consultant and artist Assistant for the Museum of Modern Art and Project Gallery 
represented Julie Mehretu, creator of feminist women’s art group 
http://discharge.hydramnios.com

Medium Gallery at www.mediumnyc.com, Neo Images at www.neoimages.net, www.gallerythe.org, 
The Brooklyn Arts Council on www.brooklynartscouncil.org, and TwentyThree: The Haploid 
Number at www.23spot.com 

Featured artist on www.infinite-echo.com (2004-2005), member of www.fine-art.com, 
listed on www.paintergallery.com, and member of www.deviantart.com


EDUCATION

Pratt Art Institute, Brooklyn, NY, BFA Painting 
Technology Development Center, Ventura, CA, Digital Animation 
Ventura Community College, Ventura, CA, Drawing 
Cal Arts Innerspark, Valencia, CA, Painting, Ceramics