Elsworth Dale Erickson, (Born: August 1942 - Marquette, MI, USA) at a young age took up painting, much to his father’s dismay and over the years has honed and proven his gift for creating paintings that masterfully bring together an incredible balance of realism of objects and backgrounds with a character portrait of people as they are experienced and not just seen. The juxtaposition of these elements shows the true depth of his talent in storytelling. Most paintings come from true stories and feature people from his life.

The works trend towards the large size which further pushes the boundary of experience. Dale is simply one of San Francisco's most skilled contemporary realist painters.

Erickson's paintings, drawings and prints chronicle his forty-plus years in San Francisco. His subjects are colorful streets, interesting people from the city, his world travels, as well as a wide variety of still life subjects. He is an artist who has stayed true to his calling, dedicated to realism.

Erickson reveals a consistent handling and individual style. In his approach, the dance of color and light expose a traditional, formal treatment of composition. At the same time formality is expressed quietly and uniquely in the casual elegance Dale imbues in most of his works.

As a longtime resident of Project Artaud, Erickson has been a driving force in the San Francisco arts community since the early 1970’s. As a young boy he started painting the world around him and has continued to do so ever since. Following his passion he pursued a formal education in fine arts. He has been selling his works, which have found their way across the world, to enthusiasts and notable collectors alike.

Dale received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1964 and an MA in printmaking from San Francisco State University in 1974.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:

• Legion of Honor Museum: Achenbach Foundation, San Francisco, CA

• Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL

• San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, CA

• City of Redwood City, Redwood City, CA

• Home Savings and Loan Association, Los Angeles, CA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

• 2015 "Time: Exploring Perpetuity", Project Artaud, SF, CA

• 2015 Realism of Water and Windows", The Shooting Gallery, SF, CA

• 2015 The China Basin Exhibit", Bimma Lofts, SF, CA

• 2013 "E. Dale Erickson Recent Paintings", ArtZone 461 Gallery, SF, CA

• 2012 "Preoccupied with E. Dale Erickson", ArtZone 461 Gallery, SF, CA

• 1991 Gallery Imago, SF, CA

• 1989 SFSU Student Union Gallery, SF, CA

• 1988 Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

• 1982 Flood Gallery, SF, CA

• 1978 The Will Stone Collection, SF, CA

• 1976 Legion of Honor Museum: Achenbach Foundation, SF, CA

• 1974 "Introductions '74", Stoker-Kaseman Gallery, SF, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

• 2023 “The de Young Open 2023” de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

• 2020 “The de Young Open” de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

• 2012 "Holiday Group Show", ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

• 2012 "Blossoms & Roots", ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

• 2012 "Why Paint a Landscape?", ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

• 2011 "Realists", ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

• 1996 Kismet Gallery, San Jose, CA

• 1985 Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA

• 1981 Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA

• 1976 – Present "SFOS", Project Artaud, San Francisco, CA