Erika Rosales expresses her love for existence as a multidisciplinary artist. She is a self-taught visual artist and has been a performing artist. Her artistic work is inspired by expression through reconnection, liberation, multi-dimensional exploration and coming back to self.

As a visual artist, Erika focuses her work on abstract paintings though different mediums such as alcohol ink on yupo paper as well as mixed media on canvas. Erika has also collaborated on local mural projects with acrylic and spray paint that center social justice movements and culture.

Erika’s has also been a cultural dancer for the past 20 years sharing her Mexican traditions. She has been part of several local Mexican traditional dance performing groups.

Erika lives in Madison, Wisconsin and is originally from Mexico.

Artist Statement

I have established a relationship with my work for the past 7 years. This relationship began as an attempt to reconnect with the joy of the creative visual expression that I had as a child and found myself surrendering to a process of self-exploration. Through this reconnection, I allowed my inner guidance to connect with deep emotions that are part of my everyday life as well as the multidimensionality of existence that extends far beyond what we perceive with our known five senses. The challenges of this earthly experience have allowed me to search for healing, connection, self-awareness, and beauty.

Through our limited human perspective, we have created systems of oppression, division, and self-serving paradigms. Art has been a form of healing and resistance through millennia. As the voices and expressions of women of color have continuously been erased through oppressive systems, I consider art a healing modality for myself and those of us who have been silenced. I consider myself a conduit of undiscovered realms that want to be expressed. My paintings explore reconnection, liberation, and coming back to self through many dimensions. As a first-generation Mexican-immigrant artist, I make the unseen seen. My art demonstrates the multidimensionality not always perceptible in ourselves and others. 

I navigate emotions and different dimensions through the materials that I engage with in large and small spaces. Creating various surfaces with acrylic, alcohol ink, spray paint, and masa harina/semolina (corn grits) depicting visuals from the material to non-material realms. I invite the viewers to have an expansive inner journey through my work. 

RESUME

EDUCATION

Self taught artist- Continuous exploration in acrylic, alcohol ink, and spray paint

Previous Career Academic Background: 

M.A Cultural Foundations of Community Engagement and Education. UW-Milwaukee. 2020

B.A International Studies with an emphasis on Public Diplomacy. Minor in Psychology. UW-Whitewater. 2009

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 - 11th Annual Latino Art Fair Exhibit, Commonwealth Gallery, Madison Wi

2024 - Freedom and Independence, Latino Arts Art Exhibition, Commonwealth Gallery, Madison Wi

2024 - Java Cat Auction Exhibit, Madison Wi 

2024 - Reprocidad, Edgewood College Gallery, Madison Wi

2015 - DREAMERS Fundraiser, UW-Milwaukee

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021 - Art Is Medicine That Heals Us All- UW-Madison Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Online Exhibit

MURAL PROJECTS

2019 - Nuestra Latinidad y Esperanza, Centro Hispano of Greater Madison, Madison Wi

2020 - See Love-Black Lives Movement, State Street, Madison Wi 

2022 - The Beauty of Multilingualism, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, UW-Madison Wi

2023 - Free Palestine- Mother Fools Coffee, Williamson Street, Madison Wi

2024 - The listening heart, Sugar Creek Elementary School, Verona Wi

VISUAL PERFORMANCES

2005-2024 

Cultural Dancer of Mexican Folkloric dance groups. Ballet Folklorico de Los Hermanos Avila, Mexican Dance Ensemble and DanzTrad. Madison, Wi and Milwaukee, Wi

  • Yearly performances at the Overture Center for the Arts International Festival 

  • School performances such as Nuestro Mundo Elementary, Midvale Elementary, Cherokee Middle School, Memorial High-School, and more

  • Community performances such as UW-Madison Memorial Union, Art Fair on the Square, Taste of Madison, Goodman Community Center, Kids on the Rotunda at the Overture Center for the Arts and more

  • National performances in places such as Washington State, Arkansas, New York, and Philadelphia

TEACHING

2019 - Centro Hispano Art Workshop for (Re)generacion Youth Group. Madison, Wi

2025 - Latine Comics Collective. Partnership between UW-Madison and West High-school, Madison Wi