We were lucky to catch up with Wesley Ericson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wesley, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My first job, fortunately, was with ArtWorks Cincinnati. I applied to work in their mural program one summer and ended up in a project they had operating at the time called, Hero Design Company. As a high schooler, I had no idea how participating in this program would shape how I move, create, and share space with people daily.

Briefly, Artworks Cincinnati’s mission is to create community-based public art that provides career opportunities for artists of all ages, with a wide range of creative projects like largescale murals, gallery fellowships and occasionally art therapy programs.

Hero Design Company, for those of you who aren’t familiar, helps kids facing medical, physical, and emotional hardships to discover their real-world superpowers through the co-creation of their very own superhero insignias and capes.

I created near forty to fifty superhero capes for children at places like Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Fernside Grief Center, and Shriners Hospital. Seeing and hearing the stories of what these kids faced, the surgeries undergone, family members they lost, and seeing their burn scars, really put into perspective the severity and preciousness of life. It’s sacred, and art is a way to heal and acknowledge that. To tell stories and remind us of what is good about humanity.

A whole year of learning to sew passed, creating meaningful art pieces alongside fellow apprentices under the guidance of professional artists, truly motivated me to pursue a creative career. I transitioned from that project into their mural-making section the next summer and ended up winning their Biggie Award during our partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center, setting the stage for my career in the arts.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

“My name is Wesley Ericson. I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. Typically, my creative work consists of public art, murals, and community engagement programming. I work in relation to multiple nonprofits in my city: ArtWorks Cincinnati and Art-Empowerment with Mr. Brent Billingsley. My personal art-making practice is more studio- and travel-based, which in the last three years has taken me to several countries in South America for different art residencies/work.

As a reference, ART-E provides therapeutic artistic engagement to connect diverse communities through culturally competent dialogue. We engage with individuals of differing ages and backgrounds. Consistency and being present in our communities are key components of how we engage artistically and build relationships.

In my representational painting practice, I’m interested in ideas of temperance, interactions, and states of condition, which, to me, are best conveyed through visual storytelling. Discovering which aspects of life I am gravitated toward based on subjective observation. The canvas is where I correlate meaning in touch and color to communicate these realizations. Although classical in themes of figurative, landscapes, and still lifes, it remains relevant in this ever-changing contemporary world. Thus, encompassing far more than the perception of reality but intertwining intrinsic themes of time, placement, and relationships.

My services include painting commissions and mural making, private, or community-based. What sets me apart from others is my unconventional learning experience via apprenticeships under varying professional artists who continually pour knowledge and wisdom into me as I grow into the person I am today. If you are interested in seeing some of my work, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram: @wesleyericson.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

“The most rewarding thing about being an artist are the interactions and relationships built. I have met so many amazing people along my journey. Between engaging the community at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, to my art residencies in Argentina and Colombia, and directing the art room at St. Aloysius. Art has expanded my world in ways I could never imagine, placing people in my life who share a focus of being positive placemakers; creating a world rooted in belonging and purpose.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There is a book I found thrifting once, called ‘Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person’ by Hugh Prather. It’s short, sweet, and sometimes brutal. Providing generous advice about life and how sometimes we sabotage ourselves, yet there is always a way to recover. It’s definitely worth a read.

The most precious insight I can share, drawn from my journey in artistry, is the essential need to nurture a deep connection with oneself. Art springs forth as a reflection of our time and dedication, underscoring the significance of identifying what truly sparks our inner flame, rather than simply tracing external influences.

In the pursuit of any endeavor, I urge reflection on the distinction between goals and motivations. Let us reconsider “motive” as our intrinsic “values,” for it is these values that endure beyond the completion of any goal, be it an artwork or otherwise. Without a clear grasp of our personal values, motivation inevitably falters.

This interplay offers a captivating dual perspective: as we delve into self-discovery, we uncover our authentic desires, values, and motivations, all of which shape our creative endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wesleyericson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesleyericson/
• Other: https://www.cincyarte.org/thevillage

  https://www.proyectoace.org/en/artistas/wesley-ericson-2/

Image Credits

Bruna Castra