ERIK BROWN 

Bio: Erik Brown is a ceramic artist living in Flagstaff, Arizona and working out of the ceramics studio at Northern Arizona University. He will receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this December after his upcoming thesis show on November 20th at the Beasley Art Gallery. Erik is an Army veteran from the GWOT era and now enjoys a quiet life in the mountains with his dog, Tootsie, and the friends he has made since returning to NAU.

Artist statement: His recent work has been focused on personal growth and his own struggles with mental illness. Trauma from military service is not a new concept, but sometimes those traumatic events do more work in worsening prior conditions and even damage done during childhood. There is value in unpacking all of our problems through art. Deep contemplation on personal issues can create a work of beauty that resonates with strangers. This transformation from an isolating, debilitating issue into a focal point for connection is the reason to put it all into art. The joy and the hurt. The logical and the messy. It is all human and so are we. Our