Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Carle.
Hi Erin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Creativity has been a constant throughout my life. I grew up in Houston, Texas, I spent most of my childhood immersed in the performing arts and modeling. I began dancing at the age of three and later trained extensively in ballet and aerial arts, eventually performing and teaching professionally. Dance taught me discipline, attention to detail, and an appreciation for movement, storytelling, and transformation, ideas that continue to shape my artistic practice today. While visual art had always been a creative outlet, it wasn’t until later that I realized painting could become the primary language through which I explored the world around me. Coming from a long line of painters (4 generations) the transition from performing arts to visual arts was pretty seamless. My artistic practice has continually evolved alongside my own experiences, with each body of work marking a different stage in my life. During my undergraduate studies at Texas State University, my paintings focused on the female experience through a feminist lens. Influenced by Op Art, I used optical patterns and visual distortion to explore themes of identity, societal expectations, power dynamics, and the ways women navigate spaces shaped by patriarchal ideals.
After graduating, my work became much more personal. Drawing from my background as a professional ballerina, I began examining body image, food, and the complicated relationships we develop with eating. Brightly colored, hyperrealistic depictions of food became central to my paintings, often paired with surreal elements that questioned beauty standards, discipline, and self-worth. This body of work culminated in my recent solo exhibition, You Should Eat a Burger, which invited viewers to reflect on the pressures surrounding bodies and nourishment while balancing humor with deeper social commentary.
Now, as an MFA candidate at the University of Texas at San Antonio, my practice has shifted once again. While my earlier work was rooted in personal and social narratives, I have become increasingly interested in transformation, nature, and dreams. Working across painting, sculpture, and installation, I use surrealist creation methods and world-building to construct immersive environments that encourage curiosity and invite viewers into imagined landscapes. My current work explores transformation as both a psychological and natural process, creating spaces where the boundaries between reality, memory, and the subconscious begin to dissolve. Beyond my studio practice, I believe that building community is an essential part of being an artist. Throughout my time in Austin, I have been actively involved in creating opportunities for other artists through curatorial and nonprofit work. As Executive Director of Gallery ATX 2023-2025, I have helped organize exhibitions, public programs, and events that support emerging artists and foster meaningful connections within the local arts community. I also participated in this years Future Front residency, which further expanded my network of interdisciplinary artists and reinforced the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and creative exchange. Whether through exhibiting, curating, teaching, or organizing community events, I strive to contribute to an arts ecosystem that is accessible, inclusive, and supportive. As I continue my MFA, I hope to build on these experiences by creating work that not only invites engagement but also strengthens the communities that surround it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been pursuing a career in a field where financial stability is never guaranteed. There have been moments when it would have been easier to take a more conventional path, but I’ve always believed that creating meaningful work is worth the uncertainty.
Another challenge has been navigating the expectations that often come with being an artist. There can be pressure to make work that is commercially successful, easily understood, or consistent with what people already know you for. I’ve learned that staying true to my own curiosity is more important than meeting outside expectations. Every shift in my work has come from a genuine desire to explore new ideas rather than repeat what has already been successful.
Those experiences have taught me to trust my instincts, embrace change, and define success on my own terms. I’ve found that the most rewarding work comes from following what feels authentic, even when the path forward is uncertain.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multidisciplinary artist whose practice blends painting, sculpture, and installation to create immersive, surreal environments. My current work is rooted in surrealist creation methods and explores themes of transformation, nature, dreams, and the subconscious. Rather than presenting a single image on a wall, I am interested in building experiences that invite viewers to physically engage with the work. Through sculptural forms, hidden spaces, and interactive elements, I encourage moments of curiosity, discovery, and wonder.
One of the projects I am most proud of is my recent solo exhibition, You Should Eat a Burger. The exhibition brought together a body of work inspired by my experiences as a ballerina and examined body image, food, and the complex emotional relationships we develop with eating. It marked an important turning point in my practice, allowing me to fully realize a cohesive body of work while laying the foundation for my current exploration of immersive installation.
What sets my work apart is my desire to create worlds rather than objects. My background in dance has shaped the way I think about space, movement, and the viewer’s body, leading me to create installations that are experienced rather than simply observed. I’m interested in slowing people down and inviting them into moments of discovery, whether by looking through a small opening into a hidden dreamscape or navigating a surreal environment that blurs the line between reality and imagination. Ultimately, I hope my work leaves viewers with a sense of curiosity and encourages them to reconnect with the imaginative wonder that often fades with adulthood.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
they can connect through instagram @erincarleart or my website erincarleart.myportfolio.com. look out for upcoming openings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erincarleart.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erincarleart/
