NOVEMBER 4, 2022. KATE MOTHES

“High Tide” (2022), acrylic on panel. All images © Lisa Ericson

Ecosystems intermingle and mammals find themselves immersed in an increasingly watery world in Lisa Ericson’s hyperrealistic acrylic paintings. A hare and a mountain goat, which would typically be found in dry climates or high elevations, stand atop a small island of cacti or rock in an ongoing series of works that view the climate crisis—especially the impending rise of sea levels—through a lens of magical realism.

“Risky Business” (2022), acrylic on panel

Drawing on the artistic legacy of chiaroscuro, or contrast between the bright figures and deep background, Ericson’s compositions appear as if a spotlight has been directed on the scene to highlight unusual interactions, such as a fox ferrying bluebirds across a waterway […]

“Shelter in Place” (2022), acrylic on panel

More: Diverse Ecosystems Merge in Hyperrealistic Paintings of Flora and Fauna by Lisa Ericson — Colossal