BIOGRAPHY
Erin Smith is a contemporary painter based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, whose large-scale floral paintings explore self-perception, resilience, ambiguity, and the freedom of taking up space. Drawing on backgrounds in photography and nursing, Smith examines the ways people experience memory, grief, beauty, and transformation. Her early work behind the camera fostered a lasting sensitivity to composition, light, and the ability of an image to communicate beyond words, while her clinical work deepened her understanding of emotional complexity and resilience. Through expressive brushwork, layered color, and monumental scale, Smith creates paintings that invite reflection, interpretation, and personal connection.
CV
Education: Master of Science in Nursing, Old Dominion University (2022); Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Northern Illinois University (2014). Self-taught painter. Former professional photographer, Erin Leppo Photography (2008-2016).
Selected Exhibitions: ACT 4, Galeria Azur, New York, NY (2026); Art Expo Chicago, Chicago, IL (2026);Celebrate, Gallery by the Lake, Lake Charles, LA (2025). Collections: Private collections in Louisiana, Virginia, and Maryland.
STATEMENT
Through large-scale floral paintings, I explore self-perception, ambiguity, and the freedom of taking up space. Drawing from my backgrounds in photography and nursing, I use flowers as a visual language for memory, grief, beauty, resilience, and transformation. My paintings remain open to interpretation, inviting viewers to bring their own experiences and meanings to the work.
