Erik Otto
San Francisco, United States
Bio
San Francisco artist Erik Otto is nothing if not versatile. He has diverse styles, from wonderfully drippy fine art to the graffiti-style speakers he’s done for Infectious. He also works in diverse media, from painting on reclaimed materials to film (he has just shown his productions Glory Boy Days at Sundance). Erik has even had a bit of experience working with vehicles: he once painted a friend’s van in exchange for help building his studio.
Interview
Describe your style:
Organic, multi-layered and a whole lot of thought.
Tell us about the inspiration behind your Infectious art piece.
It’s called Flight to Rhythm. It’s just a piece about freedom and music. I love music, it’s always on in my life, and freedom is a theme I tend to revisit in my work.
So what’s been playing on your iPod this week?
Eternal Reflection by Nujabes and Fill Me by Miyoshi. Tommy Guerrero is also a favorite of mine.
Who are the three most recent artists you’ve seen and loved?
Grant Barnhart, Ian Francis, Joey Piziali. I also recently checked out Take Your Time by Olafur Eliasson at the SFMOMA. Installation madness. It blew me away.
Can you tell us one thing about your friend (and fellow Infectious artist) Blaine Fontana that would make him blush?
Haha! He’s a great chef and loves watching Animal Planet. People think he’s all big and rock star status, but he’s super-chill.
Other than a car, where would you like to see your art?
In books and in museums all over the world, of course. But seriously, before I die I want to have a traveling show around the world – that would be the biggest and hardest project ever – and make a movie of the experience.
What was your last sketch?
This was an installation idea for an upcoming show.
You work a lot with recycled materials. Where do you source them and what’s the most exciting found object you’ve worked with?
I look in Urban Ore in Berkeley, building resources, friends’ backyards and demolition sites. I was most excited when I figured out how to suspend a 100lb 12ft tree sideways for my show A Long Way Home.
If you had to draw yourself a tattoo, what would it be and where would it be?
I’d have “The darkest days come right before the light”, in the dead center of my chest.
Where would you like your art to grow?
I used to do some weird stuff when I was younger, like painting with brooms and egg-beaters. Just making art that’s innocent and full of curiosity. I think when we get older we get afraid to do things like that, but I want to try stuff like that again.
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
I’d want to be a stunt double for movies, or someone who helps film animal documentaries for National Geographic where they camp in below freezing for months, just to get one three minute shot.
What does the future hold for Erik Otto?
Without saying too much… I plan to build my own boat for my next solo show, called The Sea of Change at The Shooting Gallery, in San Francisco. I’d also love to do a children’s book.
2/11/08
