BIO/CV

Artist - Erik Abel. Born 1980. Currently lives and works in Southern Oregon.
Erik Abel's Black & White Bio Pic

Bold colors, geometric patterns, and botanical profiles capture the eye in Erik Abel’s artwork. Inspired by his love of the ocean, surfing and travel, Abel’s work articulates the spirit of the water and awe of nature. His roots as a California surfer intermingle with his experiences living in the Pacific Northwest as well as traveling to the South Pacific and Central America, imparting an organic, tribal style to his subjects and compositions. Upon a closer look, Abel’s graphic imagery unfolds to tell the story of his paintings. Accents peak through unexpectedly revealing the layers of color Abel cloaks in each piece while loose strokes of colored pencil create detail and dimension. Abel now lives and works in Ashland, Oregon. His original pieces have been featured in galleries across the country and abroad while his commercial work has attracted clients including Patagonia, Reef, REI and Billabong. Abel gives back to environmental and humanitarian projects through nonprofit partnerships, exhibitions, and commercial projects.

Education

Southern Oregon University, 2000-2003, BA in Painting

Ventura College, 1998-1999, Fine Art & Design Studies

Selected Clients

REI

Patagonia

Pottery Barn

Billabong

Rip Curl

Reef

Sector 9 Skateboards

Trader Joe's

Save The Waves

Surfing Magazine

New Seasons Market

Blue Moon Brewing Co.

Tru Protection

National Cherry Blossom Festival

SurfAid.org

Heal the Bay

Carver Skateboards

EverSesh Skateboards

Oxbow

Oddica

Rockstar Energy

Signal Snowboards

Roberts Surfboards

Glissade Snowboards

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

Beachworks

Maui and Sons

Coastal Classics

Laurelwood Brewing Co.

Breakside Brewing Co.

Moment Surf Co.

Lokahi

Black Strap

Outside Van

Rumpl

Solo Exhibitions

2023 ”Stormy Feather”
Archimedes Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR

2022 ”Happy Place”
Brophy Gallery, San Clemente, CA

2021 ”Life Wyldest”
Archimedes Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR

2010 ”The Fluid That Binds Us”
Surfing Heritage Museum, CA

2008 “Ripple: Art Affecting Oceans”
Art Whino,Surfrider Benefit
New Work
Red Brick Gallery, Ventura, CA

2006 “Public: Collection”
Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2003 “Systematics”
Mobius Gallery, Ashland, OR

Group Exhibitions

2022

"Lightly Salted" 2-person show with Spencer Reynolds. Archimedes Gallery

2019

LifeWyld: VOLUME 2” 2-person show with Blaine Fontana. Archimedes Gallery

Group Show, Pueo Gallery, Paia, HI

“Earth & Ocean Arts Festival” Archimedes Gallery

Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA,“Into the Blue”

Vs Gallery, Melbourne, AUS,“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gutter

Wyland Gallery, Haleiwa, HI “14th Annual Surf Art Show”

2018

Archimedes Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR “LifeWyld” 2-person show with Blaine Fontana

Greenroom Gallery, Yokohama, Japan “Greenroom Festival”

2017

Archimedes Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR “Stormy Weather Group Show

Wyland Gallery, Haleiwa, HI “12th Annual Surf Art Show”

2016

Archimedes Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR “Stormy Weather Group Show”

Village Theatre Gallery, Danville, CA “Surf’s Up”

Wyland Gallery, Haleiwa, HI “11th Annual Surf Art Show”

2015

Wyland Gallery, Haleiwa, HI “10th Annual Surf Art Show”

Wyland Gallery Haleiwa and Waikiki, Signature Gallery Lahaina

2014

Wyland Gallery, Haleiwa, HI “9th Annual Surf Art Show”

“Vagabonde Surf Art Festival”Bordeaux, France

2013

Art Whino Gallery, National Harbor, MD, “Branching Out”

2012

Couch, Santa Barbara, CA

WAV Gallery, Ventura, CA, “WAV on Board”

WAV Gallery, Ventura, CA, “Soon to be Summer”

Create Fixate, LA, CA “10 Yr Anniversary Show”

2012

Driftwood Salon, San Francisco, CA, “SurfAid BoardArt Benefit”

2011

Couch, Santa Barbara, CA, “Freedom Riders”

Hawaiian Salt, Kauai, HI, “Summer Aloha Reception”

Ventura Museum of Art, Ventura, CA, “Splash”

Green Flash Gallery, Cardiff, CA, “New Wave”

2010

Billabongs Design For Humanity, Hollywood, CA

2008

Gallery 1988, San Fransisco, CA, “All in Together”

BLVD Gallery, Seattle, WA “Trade Bloc”

2007

DVA Gallery, Chicago, IL “Picks of the Harvest: Chicago Invasion”

Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC “Grand Opening Group Show”

Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 3-Person, “Global Storming”

Brian Marki Gallery, Portland, OR “Urban Smile"

The Life Gallery, Portland, OR “We Must Learn to Speak as Prophets”

Wind-up Gallery, Mesa, AZ, “The Rising”

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA “Untitled Love Project”

The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Featured Artist, February

Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Picks of the Harvest: Batch 4”

The Venice Contemporary, Venice, CA “Group Show”

2006

Create:Fixate, Hollywood, CA “Alive in Los Angeles”

Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Square Foot Show”

Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Picks of the Harvest: Batch 3”

Hangar 1018, Los Angeles, CA “The MAX”

Cannibal Flower, Los Angeles, CA, Ongoing Monthly Group Exhibition

Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Ongoing Monthly Group Exhibition

Publications

2019

Visit Ventura Inspiration Guide, Cover artwork

2017

Surf Story Volume

2015

Salt Magazine, Summer

2013

Alem Dekor Magazine, Turkey, March

2012

Concrete Wave Magazine, Cover, Summer

SUPing Magazine, Nov

2010

Fluir Magazine, Oct

Surfing Magazine, Last Ride Illustration, Oct

Book: Torso, Featured shirt design

2009

Tide Magazine, Nov 2009, 10 Page Interview

2008

Surfing Magazine, Vol.44 #11, Last Ride Section & Vol.44 #12

Book: Invision 2, Another Sky Press, Featured Artist

2007

Juxtapoz Magazine, San Francisco, CA, Issue #80

PDX Magazine, Portland, OR, December

Citizen LA, Los Angeles, CA, Vol 2 Number 1

Los Angeles Downtown News, Los Angeles, CA, Feb 5th

2006

Oddica Magazine, Orange County, CA, Cover, Inaugural Issue

2003

3AM Magazine, Ashland, OR, Issues 1 & 2

Awards & Recognitions

Save The Waves.org / Artist Ambassador

Ashland Gallery Association / Board Member and Artist Liaison

My Long-winded Story

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