ERIC FREEMAN

 

Born 1970, Brooklyn, New York; died 2021

 

Eric Freeman has become well known for his striking works of abstract illusion. Through his application of oil and pigment on to canvas, Freeman executes paintings that evoke a vibrant sense of depth, texture, and movement. His manipulation of color and light creates three dimensional effects that shift with respect to the viewer’s position in space. Freeman uses custom iridescent pigments that refract light at different intensities depending on the thickness of the paint layer and increase the architectural dimension of his work. He has drawn inspiration from contemporary artists such as James Turrell and Dan Flavin as well as Color Field painters of the twentieth century such as Mark Rothko and Josef Albers. Yet Freeman’s particular use of light, space, and hue, through many layers of paint, yields compositions that are original and stunning.

 

Since earning his B.F.A from Tufts University in 1993, Freeman has shown his work in many major galleries, museums and institutions across the globe. His work is included in a variety of permanent collections including the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, Finland, Saatchi Gallery, London, the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation.