Erika Cann
My sculptural practice playfully explores the relationship between bodies and geologies, drawing on my experience as a rock climber and from stories gathered in the landscape to create speculative folkloric narratives of the deep-time future. Ideas knot and materials loop throughout my practice, reminding us of our entangled connection to cycles and processes of the landscape, and exploring the tensions that arise from living in this geological era.
My embodied practice informs research spanning from future fossils to the fluidity of geological timescales. Man-made materials leftover from the outdoors industry are used to playfully reframe what is considered as geology and how we navigate ourselves in a time which is reshaping the strata beneath our feet.
Beyond my making practice I am interested in developing artist-led opportunities in the South West, and have led a series of walking-based networking events titled Creative Roaming, as well as recently establishing a window gallery and test space in Exeter for emerging artists called Traction Project Space.
Instagram: @erikac_art
Erika Cann
My sculptural practice playfully explores the relationship between bodies and geologies, drawing on my experience as a rock climber and from stories gathered in the landscape to create speculative folkloric narratives of the deep-time future. Ideas knot and materials loop throughout my practice, reminding us of our entangled connection to cycles and processes of the landscape, and exploring the tensions that arise from living in this geological era.
My embodied practice informs research spanning from future fossils to the fluidity of geological timescales. Man-made materials leftover from the outdoors industry are used to playfully reframe what is considered as geology and how we navigate ourselves in a time which is reshaping the strata beneath our feet.
Beyond my making practice I am interested in developing artist-led opportunities in the South West, and have led a series of walking-based networking events titled Creative Roaming, as well as recently establishing a window gallery and test space in Exeter for emerging artists called Traction Project Space.
Instagram: @erikac_art
Education
2021: BFA Fine Art, Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford
2018: Foundation Diploma Art, Exeter School of Art
Selected Exhibitions
2025: The Devil's Helix, Platform Gallery, Exeter Phoenix
2024: Technofossils: Traces of the Deep Future, Projection Room, Paignton
: Interconnected, Kennaway House
:Through Line, Maltings Taphouse Gallery, Newton Abbot
:Out With The Old, In With The New, Studio KIND., Barnstaple
2023: the foot sinks into it, The Plough Arts Centre
: Underland Passages, Art Week Exeter 2023 (Venue 21)
: Pseudomorphs of a Crater, Gallery 333, Exeter Phoenix
: Shaping Objects, Alma Artspace, Newquay
: Stone Lane Gardens Summer Exhibition
2022: How Long, CAMP, Plymouth
: South West Printmaking Open, Studio KIND, North Devon
:The Anxiety of Interdisciplinarity, IMPACT12, Centre For Print Research, Bristol
: A New Folklore, Fish Factory Arts Space, Penryn
: RE: Wild, Maketank, Exeter
2021: Reignite, Creative Youth Network, Bristol
: ECO, The Coral Reef Principle, Ursa Gallery, Bridgeport
: Final, Not Over - Again, Ruskin School of Art, Unit One Gallery, London
2019: Lower Ground, Prelims Exhibition, Ruskin School of Art
: 02: Flux, Group Exhibition, Worcester College, Oxford
Online
2022: Erika Cann and Siân Goldby: Towards a geological-artistic practice, commissioned by Eco Art Scotland and The Barn Arts
2021: Resolve, Graduate Showcase, The South West Collective
: BFA Degree Show Website, Ruskin School of Art
2020: Issue 01, Black River
Print
2024: Issue 3 (Landing), Spotter Magazine
2023: COPY // unfold II
2022: Linear, The Dartmoor Collective
:Frontpage, Backpage, Centrefold, CAMP (for BAS9)
:Geographies of Print, Geographies of Print Collective
:Ephemeris, Tour De Moon Issue 6
2021: New Graduates, TSDAP
: As Yet Untitled, Interim Arts
: Ruskin Class of '21, Ruskin School of Art
: Scope Creep, Ruskin School of Art
Awards and Bursaries
2024: Mentoring and Bursary awards, Creative Leadership program, Plymouth Culture
2023: PITCH bursary, CAMP
2022: Curatorspace Artist Bursary #17
:Centrefold Award for Frontpage, Backpage, Centrefold, CAMP
:Time, Space, Money Bursary, A-N
: New Perspectives Bursary, Campaign for National Parks
2021: Graduate Showcase F16 Store Award, The South West Collective, Resolve
2019: Human Anatomy Prize, Ruskin School of Art
Workshops and Residencies
Current: Creative Roaming walking workshops with Exeter Phoenix (2023-present)
2024: Residency at The Projection Room with Wide Open, Paignton
2023: Future Fossils: imaginations through cameraless photography, workshop at Celebrate Start Bay with Harbour House, Kingsbridge
2022: New Platform Artists Development Program participant
: Workshop leader of Mapping the Space of The Exchange, for Spike Island at The Exchange 2
2021-22: CAMP, The Exchange 2 participant
: Positive Light Projects, Emerging Artist Studio Bursary
: RAMM, Youth Panel Member
: The Barn Arts, Becoming Earthly Selected Participant
2021: Visual Arts South West, ‘Youth Artworkers Advisory Group’ Panel Member
Projects and Professional Experience
Current: Curator at Traction Project Space
: Exhibitions Coordinator, Exeter Phoenix (2025-ongoing)
: Editor of Creative Hub, Exeter Phoenix (2023-ongoing)
: Steering Group Member, Visual Arts South West (2022- ongoing)
: Arts Administrator, Positive Light Projects (2022-ongoing)
2022: Workshop Leader and publication designer, Campaign For National Parks, New Perspectives Bursary
:Guest Editor for 'Ephemeris', Moon Press, Tour De Moon
2021: Photographer and Videographer, Arts and Eco Creativity Program, Significant Seams CIC, Devon
: Degree Show 2021 Publication Team member, Design and Layout, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford
2020: Creative Director, Worcester College Commemoration Ball, Oxford
2021: BFA Fine Art, Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford
2018: Foundation Diploma Art, Exeter School of Art
Selected Exhibitions
2025: The Devil's Helix, Platform Gallery, Exeter Phoenix
2024: Technofossils: Traces of the Deep Future, Projection Room, Paignton
: Interconnected, Kennaway House
:Through Line, Maltings Taphouse Gallery, Newton Abbot
:Out With The Old, In With The New, Studio KIND., Barnstaple
2023: the foot sinks into it, The Plough Arts Centre
: Underland Passages, Art Week Exeter 2023 (Venue 21)
: Pseudomorphs of a Crater, Gallery 333, Exeter Phoenix
: Shaping Objects, Alma Artspace, Newquay
: Stone Lane Gardens Summer Exhibition
2022: How Long, CAMP, Plymouth
: South West Printmaking Open, Studio KIND, North Devon
:The Anxiety of Interdisciplinarity, IMPACT12, Centre For Print Research, Bristol
: A New Folklore, Fish Factory Arts Space, Penryn
: RE: Wild, Maketank, Exeter
2021: Reignite, Creative Youth Network, Bristol
: ECO, The Coral Reef Principle, Ursa Gallery, Bridgeport
: Final, Not Over - Again, Ruskin School of Art, Unit One Gallery, London
2019: Lower Ground, Prelims Exhibition, Ruskin School of Art
: 02: Flux, Group Exhibition, Worcester College, Oxford
Online
2022: Erika Cann and Siân Goldby: Towards a geological-artistic practice, commissioned by Eco Art Scotland and The Barn Arts
2021: Resolve, Graduate Showcase, The South West Collective
: BFA Degree Show Website, Ruskin School of Art
2020: Issue 01, Black River
2024: Issue 3 (Landing), Spotter Magazine
2023: COPY // unfold II
2022: Linear, The Dartmoor Collective
:Frontpage, Backpage, Centrefold, CAMP (for BAS9)
:Geographies of Print, Geographies of Print Collective
:Ephemeris, Tour De Moon Issue 6
2021: New Graduates, TSDAP
: As Yet Untitled, Interim Arts
: Ruskin Class of '21, Ruskin School of Art
: Scope Creep, Ruskin School of Art
Awards and Bursaries
2024: Mentoring and Bursary awards, Creative Leadership program, Plymouth Culture
2023: PITCH bursary, CAMP
2022: Curatorspace Artist Bursary #17
:Centrefold Award for Frontpage, Backpage, Centrefold, CAMP
:Time, Space, Money Bursary, A-N
: New Perspectives Bursary, Campaign for National Parks
2021: Graduate Showcase F16 Store Award, The South West Collective, Resolve
2019: Human Anatomy Prize, Ruskin School of Art
Workshops and Residencies
Current: Creative Roaming walking workshops with Exeter Phoenix (2023-present)
2024: Residency at The Projection Room with Wide Open, Paignton
2023: Future Fossils: imaginations through cameraless photography, workshop at Celebrate Start Bay with Harbour House, Kingsbridge
2022: New Platform Artists Development Program participant
: Workshop leader of Mapping the Space of The Exchange, for Spike Island at The Exchange 2
2021-22: CAMP, The Exchange 2 participant
: Positive Light Projects, Emerging Artist Studio Bursary
: RAMM, Youth Panel Member
: The Barn Arts, Becoming Earthly Selected Participant
2021: Visual Arts South West, ‘Youth Artworkers Advisory Group’ Panel Member
Projects and Professional Experience
Current: Curator at Traction Project Space
: Exhibitions Coordinator, Exeter Phoenix (2025-ongoing)
: Editor of Creative Hub, Exeter Phoenix (2023-ongoing)
: Steering Group Member, Visual Arts South West (2022- ongoing)
: Arts Administrator, Positive Light Projects (2022-ongoing)
2022: Workshop Leader and publication designer, Campaign For National Parks, New Perspectives Bursary
:Guest Editor for 'Ephemeris', Moon Press, Tour De Moon
2021: Photographer and Videographer, Arts and Eco Creativity Program, Significant Seams CIC, Devon
: Degree Show 2021 Publication Team member, Design and Layout, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford
2020: Creative Director, Worcester College Commemoration Ball, Oxford
