Artist Profile: Dorothy Erickson

Artist Profile: Dorothy Erickson
Our featured artist of the month is internationally renowned artist-jeweller, historian and author, Dr Dorothy Erickson AM. 

With an expansive career, Erickson has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades.  

Erickson who has degrees in education from Edith Cowan University, art and design from Curtin University, and a doctorate in art history from the University of Western Australia has exhibited jewellery in Australia since 1972 and internationally since 1979. 

With some forty plus solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions world-wide her work is held in major International collections such as the Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, Germany, Dallas Museum of Art, USA, Swiss National Museum Zurich, National Museum of Art, Valetta, Malta, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Art Galleries of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney (Powerhouse), Curtin University, Western Australia and other prestigious collections. 

Dorothy is also a prize-winning author who has written several books and many articles focusing particularly on Western Australian design history.

Describing her inspiration Erickson says, “Having grown up on a farm in Western Australia with my mother the botanical artist, naturalist and historian Dr Rica Erickson AM I have always been close to my country, intrigued by the landforms, unique vegetation and wildlife. Design has remained a consuming passion that I have been able to indulge during my life and frequent travels. 
My work has varied considerably over the years with enduring interests remaining colour, geometry and nature. Some work reflects the light and land while other jewellery has a focus on kinetics as I like to make work that interacts with the moving body. 
Early in the 21st Century with access to small multi-coloured sapphires, I have translated the paintings of Gustav Klimt and then our unique wildflowers into jewels to wear. These are set in gold, a lustrous material to which I am drawn, probably because my paternal grandfather had a goldmine.”

Come in and let us introduce you to Dorothy Erickson's masterpieces - jewellery designed to be cherished for generations. We look forward to welcoming you!