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ARTIST BIO:

My work is anchored in a deep sense of wonder for the natural world and an interest in the complicated relationship between people and the places they inhabit. I am inspired by landscapes that are wild, altered, thriving, damaged, and constantly changing. Rather than separating nature from humanity, I am drawn to the ways they shape one another. Working in oil and acrylic, I paint both outdoors and in the studio. Plein air painting allows me to immerse myself in a landscape and respond to its energy, light, and atmosphere in real time. Whether working from direct observation or developing a painting later in the studio, I strive to create honest portrayals of place that acknowledge both beauty and tension. My goal is not only to depict a landscape, but to evoke the emotions it carries—the wonder, sadness, resilience, and hope that can exist side by side in the natural world.

EDUCATION:

2015: Master of Fine Arts in Visual Development, Academy of Art University

2008: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

2007: Bachelor of Arts in Art and Art History, Princeton University

EXPERIENCE:

2019-Present: Co-Founder, Illustrator and Toy Designer - Womple Studios, an educational toy company

with a focus on life sciences and geography

  • A sample of our stockists have included:

    • Field Museum

    • Jacksonville Zoo

    • Seymour Marine Discovery Center

    • Uncommon Goods

2017-2019: Designer and Illustrator- Big Fish Games

2015-2017: Art Director and Animator - Class Dojo

2014-2015: Marketing Artist - Zynga​

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2026 - “Root/Rot/Rebirth” Autonomous Gallery, Vallejo, CA

HONORS & AWARDS:

1st Place, M.F.A. Mobile Games - Academy of Art University 2014 Spring Show

Selected Participant - Academy of Art University 2013 Spring Show
Presidential Scholarship - Academy of Art University Graduate Program
Francis LeMoyne Page Award – Princeton University Program in Visual Arts
Lucas Summer Fellowship Award – Princeton University Program in Visual Arts

 

© 2026. All artwork copyright of Erin Laine McGarry

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