“Artists speak with many different voices today. Harmony and careful construction, once the main ingredient of a work of art, may not be visible anymore. The work may deal with another kind of beauty, not always obvious, that of our shadow side maybe. Whatever the individual; expression of the artists is, I ask that the work had meaning, depth, integrity, and a spark that is ignited in me, the viewer. Finally, judging is mostly subjective; therefore, the process is imperfect.”

Erika Kahn was born and raised in Europe and was influenced by artists Matisse and especially Paul Klee, among others. She began professionally as a New York fashion designer. A love of fabrics blossomed into weavings, embroidery, rugs, stitchery and dyeing. Further inspiration came from Manchu court gowns, Celtic cloaks, Japanese Noh robes and kimonos of the Kabuki dancers. In the 1960’s Kahn’s artistic interest focused on the Orient when she studied with the Abbess of the Daikoto-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Kahn studied at the Art Students League in New York; Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles; earned a B.A. and M.A. in Art at California State University. Her work has and is exhibited in Galleries and Museums throughout the United States. She has had reviews and articles in the Houston Chronicle, Fiberarts, Artweek, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Honolulu Star Bulletin and Aloha Magazine.

Erika Kahn lives in Santa Monica, California and considers herself a Pacific Rim artists drawing upon both art of the Orient and the landscape and foliage of the Hawaiian Islands. She has traveled in many parts of the world. She is a multi-faceted artist, working in many mediums. She loves elegant brilliant colors—oranges, magentas—to play against the delicate mauves and pale grayed blues and pinks. In her printmaking Kahn paints, stains and stamps gold silver into the paper. Her latest works are collage, which she feels free creativity. Kahn says “ Life/collage, sometimes it becomes one.”