Eric Maille is a 2D artist living in Norman Oklahoma. He works in the Oklahoma City area both as an independent artist and as a member of Art Group OKC. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2016, and has exhibited at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the IAO Art Gallery, as well as several non-traditional venues including the Bigfoot Creative print shop and the offices of Skyline Ink illustrators.
My work is an exploration of the challenges of the human experience and the discovery of the “self.” It describes the irony that we as humans often feel poorly equipped to live out that experience, struggling against our environments, the people around us, and our own emotions. My art celebrates the simple but noble action of living out a human life, and criticizes the ways we impede the lives of others.
I draw inspiration for my work from several sources, including the concepts of sexuality, romance, censorship, classical art, folklore, nostalgia, and mindfulness practices. Stylistically, my work has been heavily influenced by storytelling-media such as cartoon shows and comic books, relying heavily upon the emphasis of flat colors and bold linework. I like to maintain an illustrative quality to my work while also exploring the dreamy surrealist aesthetic of more classical mediums.
Ultimately, the goal of my artwork has always been to make an audience feel connected and related to. Using symbolism and narrative, my intention is that someone viewing the artwork will feel a close emotional connection to the content and how it relates to the personal joys and trials of their life. In turn I hope they recognize that they are not alone in their experiences and struggles.