(Beverly Hills, CA – March 7, 2024) – UTA Artist Space is pleased to announce The Invisible Third from artist Erin M. Riley, which delves into the concealed aspects of self, examining what individuals present to the world, what they see in themselves, and what they hide from and fear confronting. The artist’s meticulously hand-dyed and handloomed large-scale tapestries, depict intimate, erotic, and psychologically raw imagery that reflects upon relationships, memories, fantasies, sexual violence, and trauma. Collaging personal photographs, images sourced from the internet, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera to create her compositions, the Brooklyn-based weaver exposes the range of women’s lived experiences and how trauma weighs on the search for self-identity.

The self-portrait is a recurring motif in Riley’s works, which are primarily tapestries. The portraits serve as an exploration and affirmation of her identity, resilience, and relational experiences. Through various objects, imagery, and memories, she aims to convey narratives and dismantle the fear, shame, and insecurities associated with being a woman. While self-exposure is often blamed for violence, Riley strives to create a future where trauma doesn’t define us, emphasizing that safety shouldn’t rest solely on the vulnerable. By using her body in her art, Riley asserts her humanity and challenges viewers to confront their assumptions and narratives about those who assert themselves in this way.

“Erin’s works offer a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and the complexities of becoming graceful in the fear of the unknown. We are humbled to host this show and hope viewers are able to reflect on their own narratives and foster empathy in the face of uncertainty, which her works suggest” says UTA Artist Space director Zuzanna Ciolek.

The exhibition will open on Thursday, March 21 from 7 – 9 PM and will be on view through April 20th at the UTA Artist Space in Beverly Hills. Earlier that evening at 6 PM, Riley will be in conversation with artist Diedrick Brackens, with the talk moderated by curator Essence Harden, who previously curated the exhibition Sites of Memory at UTA Artist Space.

ABOUT ERIN M. RILEY

Erin M. Riley (b. 1985) received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an MFA from the Tyler School of Art. Her work has been included in solo and group exhibitions at P·P·O·W, New York; Galerie Julien Cadet, Paris; Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles; Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Høvikodden; The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs; Gana Art Gallery, Seoul; among others. Riley is the recipient of a United States Artists Fellowship Grant, 2021 and an American Academy of Arts & Letters Art Purchase Prize, 2021 and has completed residencies at MacDowell Colony, New Hampshire and the Museum of Art and Design, New York. Her work was recently featured in 52 Artists: A Feminist Milestone at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, CT, manifesto of fragility, the 16th Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art, and Kingdom of the Ill at Museion, Bolzano, Italy. Riley’s work is on view in The Myth of Normal at MassArt, Boston, MA, through May 2024. In 2024, she will present solo exhibitions at UTA Artist Space, Los Angeles, CA, and Cadet Capela, Paris, France.
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