notice:
website under construction but still functional. thank you!
current:
limburg biënnale, odapark, venray, nl
upcoming:
focus on fibers, menino arts center, boston, ma, usa
information
selected works
contact via instagram or email for inquires and commissions
tricephalous face mask
(2023)
60 cm x 57 cm
embroidery thread, found and second-hand fabrics, glass beads, lace, metal wire, packagingAn embroidered version of a Lega Bwami Tricephalous-face mask (Zaïre, now the Democratic Republic of Congo).The original version of the mask was traditionally used in rituals to mark the transition into higher levels of Bwami society. This version is a meditation on multiplicity in identity; these hand-sewn mask gestures toward material hierarchies by utilizing high and low materials embroidered with a chain stitch to signify being trapped in performative cycles. The mask plays with the notions of high and low as performative opulence can be seen as a symptom of colonial trauma.
ghidorah the three-faced monster
(2023)
220 cm x 20 cm
chopsticks, elastic, embroidery thread, found and second-hand fabrics, glass beads, lace, packaging, porcelain beadsLucky, powerful, and potentially destructive, the symbol of the dragon is pervasive in both Western and Eastern pop culture and myth. This Ghidorah resides in two realms: the Ghidorah of the day (sun) and the Ghidorah of the night (moon), representing the balance of action and emotion. They are the gods of destruction, extraterrestrial energy beings from another dimension, looming over Earth. Ghidorah is a talisman of luck against the imbalance of power, ready to descend on Earth to consume us all.
bicephalous face mask
(2023)
68 cm x 55 cm
buttons, embroidery thread, found and second-hand linen, lace, packagingThis embroidered bicephalous face mask serves as a meditation on Doherty's struggle with bipolar disorder and performativity. The mask gestures towards duality in identity and flipping from high to low both in materiality and mental state. The work focuses on cycles within humanity, production and consumption, collecting and purging, as well as the cycles of mania and depression experienced in bipolar disorder. Ritual making is a part of the artist’s process as hyper productivity happens during periods of mania. Packaging like the mask is the alluring protective layer, a talisman of protection of liminal identity.
twin fishheads
(2023)
92 cm x 56 cm each, diptych
embroidery thread, found and second-hand fabrics, glass beads, lace, metal wire, packaging, plastic beadsThese twins of embroidered construction are a mirror of each other, but they are different. Stemming from the Taoist idea that the power of the universe has two sides, dark and light, yin, and yang, these pieces are connected by their differences with a bit of each within the other. The fish are the same in method and materials with recycled fabrics, linen, and packaging, but they are simultaneously the opposite in color and position. The performance of identities can ebb and flow, each retaining a bit of the other. Mixed bodies navigate the push and pull of liminality in identity. The masks aim to use waste as a window, a potential magic folded into the mundanity of everyday ritual and performativity.
maneki neko
(2023)
69 cm x 48 cm each, triptych
artist’s blood, embroidery thread, found and second-hand fabrics, glass beads, lace, metal wire, packaging, porcelain beads, ribbonThe lucky cat is a pervasive symbol of Asian establishments worldwide. It is a lucky talisman to bring customers and good fortune. With the right arm forever raised, the wearer is stuck in a state of desire. Luck is tied to fortune in this talisman and the never ending desire to lure money to the wearer. Maneki Neko cats function as talismans of good fortune, but are also co-opted into the cycle of neoliberal greed (buy a talisman to bring more fortune). This is mirrored in contemporary craft as the use of craft in rebellion is inherently flawed as it still functions within the capitalist system. At the opening of the exhibition, Adrift, A Shift at Willem Twee Kunstrumie, Doherty anointed the Maneki Neko masks with her blood to symbolize immense disillusionment with capitalist greed.
bio
Erin C. Doherty (she/they) b.1993I am an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on craft. Drawing inspiration from cultural history, pop culture, and craft methodologies, I create works that reinterpret traditional practices through a contemporary lens. My work explores the rich interplay between local materials, textiles, and the intertwined histories of humanity and industry. By experimenting with different forms of narration—ranging from objects and material innovation to writing—I seeks to tell stories that reflect a sense of place, history, and potential alternative futures.
education
2021 - 2023
Master's Fine Arts, Visual Arts & Post Contemporary Practices
St. Joost School of Art and Design, Master Institute of Visual Cultures, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands2012- 2016
Bachelor's Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Visual Arts and Advanced Painting
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
selected exhibitions & residencies
2024
Focus On Fibers, Menino Arts Center, Boston, MA, USA
Limburg Biënnale, Oda Park, Venray, Netherlands & Marres, Maastricht, Netherlands
DIVE Festival, De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands2023
MINI textile Triennial, SBH Union of the Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria
Poznan Textile Biennial, Mała Scena UAP Gallery, Poznan, Poland
Adrift, A Shift, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Wireless Exhibition, PLATO Gallery, Évora, Portugal
Haven's Have Duo Exhibition, Haven's Have, Nykøbing Sj, Denmark
Kunstkollektivet8b Artist in Residence, Nykøbing Sj, Denmark
Open Studio Exhibition, Master Institute of Visual Cultures, s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands2022 - 2023
Re-Thinking the Artist Economy, de Kleine Aarde, Boxtel, Netherlands (Organized by the Master Institute of Visual Cultures)2022
Cortex Frontal Artist in Residence, Cortex Frontal, Arraiolos, Portugal (Embroidery wireless participant, co-taught embroidery workshop, Exhibited during the Tapetes de Arraiolos)
EYE Research Lab, EYE Film Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands2021
Troubadour Local Artist Showcase, Troubadour Hotel, New Orleans, LA, USA
Monkeyboard Muralist, Troubadour Hotel, New Orleans, LA, USA2020
Artivism Dance Theater Duo Exhibition, Artivism Theater, New Orleans, LA, USA2016
Bachelor Fine Arts Exhibition, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL, USA
Oxbow School of Art and Residency, Saugatuck MI, USA (Organized through The School of the Art Institute of Chicago)
teaching artist and arts administration
2019 - 2021
Teaching Artist, KIDsmart, New Orleans, LA, USA- Artist in residence at Arthur Ashe Elementary School
- Visual arts, art history, & academic integration programming
- Online educational specialist during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Designed and taught online teaching series: Women in Art History, Festin' With Food2017 - 2021
Teaching Artist, Project Manager, & Non-profit Administrator, Upturn Arts, New Orleans, LA, USA- Design, set up, & facilitate visual arts projects for children 4-15 years old for holiday & after school programs
- Nonprofit administration work including membership liaison
- Oversee acquisition of supplies and assistant for fundraising events & grant writing
- Visual arts facilitator for the Tulane University Interdisciplinary Experience
Seminar (TIDES)
- Design and pilot tween/teen summer programs for 2018-2019
- Youth Program Quality Initiative (YPQI) team lead 2018-2019
Programming specialist with community visiting artists2016 - 2017
Creative Arts Department Head & Visual Art Specialist, URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Utica, MS, USA- Creative director for the performing arts, visual arts, & STEAM program
- Designed & coordinated interdisciplinary projects for children 4-16 years old
- Managed specialists, counselors, & all programming for these departments2012 - 2014
Community Bookbinding Specialist, North Branch Bookbinding Studio, Chicago, IL, USA- Aided inner city children in after school artistic enterprises and fostered a safe space for creative realisation
