Erin Askew
Erin Askew's work examines the limits that hold us back and what it takes to take risks, rebuild when needed, and push ourselves forward. It's edgy and bold, and created to both tell women's stories and empower them. She challenges boundaries by breaking them: paint spills beyond the canvas, sometimes onto and even through the frame, while colors bleed and clash. Askew incorporates barbed wire as both material and metaphor—symbolizing restriction, resistance, boundaries, and rupture.
Contact
erinaskewart.com
erinaskew@gmail.com
@erinaskewart
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
The constant tension between beauty and struggle—between what confines us and what sets us free. I’m driven by the urge to break boundaries, both personal and structural, and to turn chaos into something powerful and alive. Art is an outlet for my emotions, which often spill onto the canvas and mix with memories and messages.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
It does—it keeps me grounded in my purpose, why I started, and why I keep going. Honestly, I wish life were easier, that there wasn’t so much fuel for what I do—but that’s not the reality. Making art helps me process the hard stuff and celebrate the good. It’s how I make sense of it all and keep moving forward.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
I write in a gratitude and intention journal every day—three things I’m grateful for, three intentions for the day, and three manifestations. Art always makes the list. There’s usually a little spark of inspiration that sneaks in during the process. I also set a timer while I work, even if I only have 20 spare minutes. That becomes 20 minutes with no other interruptions allowed—no texts, no distractions. It really helps me stay in the moment.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I like to start my day with art. Before checking emails or doing anything administrative, I want to kickstart my day with the positivity that creating art brings. I also try to turn every negative into a challenge, a problem to solve. If I get a rejection, I think: What could I do better next time? How can I use this as a lesson to evolve and become better?
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I hope my work makes people feel something when they look at it—to see the chaos, the energy, the triumph. For me, abstract art is a language of passion. Maybe it stirs something in them, maybe it makes them want to create, or maybe it just sparks a conversation. Either way, it’s about connection through emotion.
