Erika Kumerova

ARTIST ERIKA KUMEROVA

Born in 1973 in Riga. After graduating from the Riga Secondary School of Applied Arts, in 1993 Ārika entered the Latvian Academy of Arts in the Department of Ceramics. While studying in the 3rd year of the Art Academy (1996), Erika successfully participated in the exhibition – competition and became the winner of the Humboldt University scholarship, which opened up the opportunity to practice visual arts for a year in California, USA. The artist’s unusual combination of form and texture in her ceramic works attracted the attention of American professors. The artist acknowledges the time spent in the Arkata student campus in California, her creative work and the two exhibitions created there – “Redwood art association” in Jurika together with colleagues from the USA and “Parking only for Latvians” in Arkata with colleagues from Latvia, as the most intensive experience.

In 1999, after returning to Latvia, Ārika obtained a bachelor’s degree from LMA and has since participated in the most important ceramics exhibitions. In the Museum of Foreign Art, “Zudusho kaiju serajot” (1999), the artist’s porcelain clocks with graphic designs strongly appealed to the audience, telling about the structure of time. One of the most engaging and technically complex projects in which Kumerova participated is the large-format fireclay sculpture symposium at the Līvānu glass factory (2000), in which the work “Third Eye” is currently adorning the courtyard of the Latvian Embassy in Germany. Since 2002, Erika has worked as a designer, working closely with the interiors of future architectural projects.

However, since 2010, the artist has devoted herself entirely to painting. 8 personal exhibitions have been held and participation in 30 group exhibitions in Latvia and Lithuania. Erika is a regular participant of international seascape exhibitions “Marina”. Participated in three important projects organized by “Octobus” in 2011 and 2013, as well as in annual exhibitions organized by the Artists’ Union of Latvia.

In 2010, Ārika’s works gained attention in the exhibition “Dedication to Dance” held as part of the Latvian Ballet Festival. During the opera festival in Sigulda, the audience was delighted by the artist’s work “Image of Carmen” in the “Carmen” exhibition.
The painter is an active plein air participant, nature studies are an integral part of everyday work in the summer season. The experience gained in this way also enriches and deepens the intuitively composed works.

Erika Kumerova’s paintings are in private collections in Latvia, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Norway, England, USA. The painter is a member of the Jūrmala Society of Artists and a member of the Latvian Union of Artists.