About Erika Small

Erika Small is a visual artist based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Inspired by her upbringing along the Mississippi River in Winona, MN, Erika’s artistic journey began in childhood, painting alongside her grandmother. She pursued her passion at St. Olaf College and further refined her craft through the mastery program at the Milan Art Institute. More recently her work is evolving with the guidance of Jim at St Paul Art Academy and Hong Zhang, master of Chinese brush painting and calligraphy.

Her work explores personal narratives—moments of choice and perseverance—often using animals as symbolic guides. Erika’s bold, mixed media pieces blend spray paint, acrylics, and oils to create vibrant, layered scenes that capture pivotal moments in her subjects’ journeys.

Described as “Bold,” “Transformative,” and “Evocative,” Erika’s art has found a home in both public and private collections across the United States and beyond. She continues to draw inspiration from her surroundings and seeks to inspire viewers through her storytelling on canvas.