Eric Montoya's official web site for the art and news

October 2007 - Second Solo Show at Brad Cooper Gallery

Starting September 29th and running through October 31st the Brad Cooper Gallery will present my "Flouting Visions" series which deals with my love of portraiture, nature and the subconscious.

The Brad Copper Gallery is located in historical district Ybor City within Tampa Florida. For more information visit www.bradcoopergallery.com.

July 2007 - Two art shows in the Seattle area and the addition of five new works to the site

Five new paintings have been added to the website, including a special commission for Roger Molson. This painting is composed of four canvases, each one the portrait of the women closest to him, his three daughters and wife. His concept was to have a work which was meaningful in his home but when the time came could be distributed to each of the women for their art collections and memories.

February 2007 - Mural at Snoose Junction & Masks created for Book-it Theater's production of Tale of Two Cities

Snoose Junction pizzeria opened 2007 in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood & is owned by my good friends Emily and Mark. In 2006 Ben Brian and I were asked to worked on the interior design and create site specific works of art for the restaurant that bridged the gap between Ballard's industrial past with its modern future as one of Seattle premiere neighborhoods. For more information go to www.snoosejunctionpizzeria.com

Book-it Repertory Theater's production of Tale of Two Cities opens Feb 9th and runs through March 4th. I had a small role helping bring this production to life, creating masks to represent the Aristocrats Marie Antoinette, Louie XVI, King George, Queen Charlotte and a couple carriage horses. Director Jane Jones integrates them into the play to marvelous effect and story telling. The masks are based on simple Victorian masks using canvas lined with felt and painted realistically on the front. The production of such a classic and poignant book is just fantastic. For more information on the show see www.book-it.org

November 2006 - Group show at Brad Cooper Gallery and March of the Nutcrackers

Brad Cooper Gallery 22nd Anniversary Exhibition "Abstract Generations" opens November 25th. Details http://www.bradcoopergallery.com/

For Downtown Seattle's March of the Nutcrackers I designed and painted two 6.5 foot Nutcrackers. First, sponsored by the Seattle Art Museum "so much depends" is based on William Carlos Williams poem of the same name. Ben Brian created the wheel barrow that rests on top and acts as a beckon to draw in viewers for further contemplation. Second and the winner of the People's Choice Awards is "Nut-Cracking the Da Vinci Code" which I think you'll find fairly straight forward.

October 2006 - 6 new paintings added to site, Nordstom's Love Now / El Amor Ahora show, DIFFA benefit painting

This year I've been working on a variety of artistic projects that are still in production but have limited me to six new works which have finally made it onto the site. Click the image to see the new work.

Nordstrom's hosts Love Now / El Amor Ahora, showcasing the diverse artwork of Hispanic artists. The show is on view at select Nordstrom stores and the online gallery through October 16th. To view the art, show locations and for more information click go to: http://about.nordstrom.com/promos/love-now/default.asp

Earlier this year I was asked to create a painting / centerfold / invitation for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids). The image is being used as a centerfold in October's issue of Seattle Magazine and will be auctioned off at the Party at the Mansion event (see link). http://diffa.org/events_seattle_mansion.htm

February 2006 - One Person Show at Brad Cooper Gallery opening on the 24th and 4 paintings at CODA Gallery New York. Also four new painting added to the site.

My "NATURE'S SEDUCTION'S" show opens February 24th and runs through April 8th at the Brad Cooper Gallery in Tampa Florida's historical district Ybor City. Click here for more information regarding the Brad Cooper Gallery and press release.

Also starting the end of February four paintings go on display at CODA Gallery located on Broome Street in the SOHO district of New York City. Click here for CODA Gallery information.

I've added four new works to the site, three of these are now at the Brad Cooper Gallery. Also a new linocut print based on "Murder of Crows" is available.

Tracey Flocked by Western Sandpipers (also shown above)
Lucy in the Sky with…
Dana Lost in the Flora
How Many Chickens does it take to make a Roast Chicken?
Murder of Crows (Linocut print)

November 2005 - Two new paintings added and Nutcracker completed

I am proud to state that Ben Bryan and I have completed our Nutcracker "All the kings Men" and it shall go on display at City Centre Mall in downtown Seattle. More information can be found at the Nutcracker March websit or below under the October update.

Links to the two newest painting.

Dana lost in the Lilies
Becky's Garden

October 2005 - New linocut print and PNB Nutcracker Commission

New Linocut Print completed and added to the prints gallery. Click here to view the new print "Black-Eyed Susan"

"Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker March" similar to the "Ponies on Parade" commission (scroll to bottom) from last year, however instead of ponies Ben Bryan and I will transform a fiberglass replica of a Nutcracker into a work of art titled "All the Kings Men". The entire project will feature 60 Nutcrackers with individual themes created by 60 plus artists and placed on public display in various outdoor locations throughout Downtown Seattle. Upon completion of the event in late December, the Nutcrackers will be donated to and benefit Northwest Center. Our Nutcracker is sponsored by City Centre an upscale shopping mall in downtown Seattle. Playing on the humpty dumpty motif the nutcracker will be in a state of repair with workers on ladders hammering, setting and managing the repair of the king. A section of the king will be cut away to appear broken and will be filled with "eggs", one of which will be hatching out a new worker. This is ripe for metaphors, such as mankind builds there own kingdom, birth of a nation or the building of the political machine.

September 2005 -Two group shows on display and new linocut print

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month I have been invited to display work in two shows.

Nordstrom's hosts Love Now / El Amor Ahora, showcasing the diverse artwork of Hispanic artists. The show is on view at select Nordstrom stores and the online gallery through October 16th. To view the art and for more information click below: http://about.nordstrom.com/promos/hispanic_heritage_month.asp

City of Seattle Office of Cultural Affairs: ARTE PARA TODOS/ART FOR ALL This show sponsored by the Latino City Employees and runs from September 16 - October 14, 2005 in Seattle City Hall lobby on 5th Avenue between Cherry & James Streets. The three paintings displayed are Dana with Humingbirds & Columbines, Wisteria in-depth and Death & Resurection of Frida.

New Linocut Print completed and the "prints gallery" has been revamped. Click here to view the new print "Zabel Eryngo"

August 2005 - Four new paintings added to website

To view either go to the gallery link or listed below are the links to the newest paintings.

Dana in Cherry Blossoms
Dana with Humingbirds & Columbines
Yula in Bouquet of Sea Mallow
Yula in Profile with Lilies

July 2005 - Isis Gallery, Seattle Washington

I'm pleased to announce my exhibition titled "Garden Delights" on view at the Isis Gallery for the month of July. Fourteen works from my "Seductions of Nature" series will on display running from July 1st through the 31st with a reception Thursday July 7th - 5 to 8 pm. View Invite

Isis Gallery on First
100 First Avenue - Seattle WA 98040 (map)
2 blocks south of Seattle Art Museum
206- 628-9424

May 2005 - Update to website and Completion of the Mural for the Great Ape Trust

Well I finally updated my site! This design change should make it easier to view images and add new images on a consistent basis, not just yearly. Please check out the new work posted in the 04-05 gallery.

From April 15th through April 30 I was in Des Moines, Iowa working on a mural for the Great Ape Trust of Iowa. Images and brief notes from the experience have been posted in the 04-05 Gallery (go directly to mural page click here). Additional information regarding the murals concepts regarding languages and communication will be added latter in May.

April 2005 - Great Ape Trust mural

Been busy and haven't been able to update the site & Late in March I was commissioned to create a wall mural for The Great Ape Trust of Iowa. Please check out their site to see this incredible scientific language foundation and sanctuary for apes. www.greatapetrust.com The mural is an Iowa woodlands scene, representing the ape's new habitat, with apparitions of the apes appearing within this space. This symbolism of "there or not", "seen or not", almost ephemeral creatures in the forest fits Great Apes Trust's mission and the status of Apes in the wild. They are physically small compared with the whole woods. I'll post images once the project is completed. Also, I hope to post all of the 2004 painting upon my return.