Erika Riley

I’m Erika, also known as Acker. I’m a GTA-based artist, born in Scarborough but raised mostly in Ajax Ontario. I work full-time as an Engineer in Training during the day and as an artist at night and on weekends. I wouldn’t call myself a classically-trained artist by any means. I never wanted to give up creating my art OR give up on engineering, so I've found a balance between the two.
I don’t think engineering and art are very different in the ways that matter. They’re simply two different ways of using creativity. For my art, I like to focus on people and experiences. From murals to portraits to mini-landscapes.
I'm inspired by people and they are the main focus of my work. I try to capture people honestly. Sometimes that means capturing how they see themselves most of the time, sometimes it means capturing a single moment. Sometimes the paintings are posed, sometimes candid - I think there is beauty in both kinds of portraits.
I'm always open to commissions or collaborations - feel free to reach out!