ARTIST STATEMENT
I create detailed paintings of sensual male figures that encourage introspection. I pay close attention to the way light glows on the skin and affects the overall mood of the painting. My paintings explore the body as a poetic composition, charged with emotions that are universal yet deeply personal. My goal is to present the male figure in a soft, subtly homoerotic way, fueled by a quiet yet earnest longing.
BIOGRAPHY
Eric Theodore is a figurative artist originally from East Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2015 from Centre College in Kentucky, where he studied representational drawing and painting as well as glassblowing and received the top art award in his year. He then taught middle and high school art in Texas, where his students were recognized in state and international competitions. In 2022 he moved to California to pursue his MFA at Laguna College of Art + Design and began diving at Mission Viejo Nadadores. While at LCAD he ran figure drawing workshops, was a teaching assistant, and served as representative in the Student Government Association. He received his MFA in Painting in May 2024 and won LCAD’s Trustee’s Choice Award. He is currently the Artist-in-Residence at LCAD, where he continues to develop his work.
I create detailed paintings of sensual male figures that encourage introspection. I pay close attention to the way light glows on the skin and affects the overall mood of the painting. My paintings explore the body as a poetic composition, charged with emotions that are universal yet deeply personal. My goal is to present the male figure in a soft, subtly homoerotic way, fueled by a quiet yet earnest longing.
BIOGRAPHY
Eric Theodore is a figurative artist originally from East Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2015 from Centre College in Kentucky, where he studied representational drawing and painting as well as glassblowing and received the top art award in his year. He then taught middle and high school art in Texas, where his students were recognized in state and international competitions. In 2022 he moved to California to pursue his MFA at Laguna College of Art + Design and began diving at Mission Viejo Nadadores. While at LCAD he ran figure drawing workshops, was a teaching assistant, and served as representative in the Student Government Association. He received his MFA in Painting in May 2024 and won LCAD’s Trustee’s Choice Award. He is currently the Artist-in-Residence at LCAD, where he continues to develop his work.
RESUME
EDUCATION
2024 Laguna College of Art + Design, MFA in Painting Laguna Beach, California
2015 Centre College, Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Danville, Kentucky
PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS (** = solo show)
2024 Resonantly Me, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, California
2024 Reflections of Resilience, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition, LCAD Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
2024 New Year, New Art, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2023 ** Solo Show: Mind & Body, Mission Viejo Library, Mission Viejo, California
2023 Emerging Masters, LCAD Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
2023 2023 and Me, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2022 2000-2022: A Legacy in Glass, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
2022 Laguna Beach Juried Show, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2022 Plein-Journal, LCAD Library, Laguna Beach, California
2022 BCS Showcase, Reynolds Gallery at Texas A&M University College Station, Texas
2022 Art Educators Showcase, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley College Station, Texas
2022 Eric Theodore and High School Students, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2022 ** Featured Artist: Eric Theodore, The Frame Gallery Bryan, Texas
2021 DEGART 2021 International Competition, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2021 Sparkle, The Artists’ Circle Gallery Austin, Texas
2021 Fresh Paint 2021, Bryan Contemporary Artists Bryan, Texas
2020 DEGART 2020 International Competition, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2020 Eros, C’est La Vie, Gallery 110 Seattle, Washington
2019 ** Drawings & Paintings by Eric Theodore, Halcyon Austin, Texas
2019 Members’ Exhibition, Atelier Dojo, Austin, Texas
2019 Eric Theodore & DVMS Students, Degallery College Station, Texas
2017 Juried Show, Art979 Gallery Bryan, Texas
2017 ** New Art Vernissage: Eric Theodore, Degallery College Station, Texas
2016 Guerilla Art Takeover, Art 979 Gallery Bryan, Texas
2016 Artist-in- Residence Show, Horlock Art Gallery Navasota, Texas
2016 Happiness, Riddle Gallery Bryan, Texas
2015 Art in the Mayor’s Office, Arts & Culture Alliance Knoxville, Tennessee
2015 Arts in the Airport, McGhee-Tyson Airport Knoxville, Tennessee
2015 Open Show 2015, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
2015 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, The Guild of Artists Ann Arbor, Michigan
2015 Senior Art Exhibition, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 TAPPED 5, Manifest Gallery Cincinnati, Ohio
2014 SOFA, Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky
2014 LexArts University Open, Downtown Gallery Lexington, Kentucky
2013 Open Show 2013, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
2013 From All Sides: The Figure, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
AWARDS & HONORS
2024 Winner, Trustee’s Choice Award, Laguna College of Art + Design
2023 Finalist, Pacific Art Foundation, Pacific Art Foundatio
2022 Semi-Finalist, Art Renewal Center Salon International Competition
2021 1st Place, DEGART 2021 International Competition
2021 1st Place, Sparkle, The Artist’s Circle Gallery
2020 Honorable Mention, DEGART 2020 International Competition, Degallery
2017 People’s Choice Award, Juried Show, Art979 Gallery
2016 Navasota Artist Residency, Arts Council of Brazos Valley
2015 Golden Fig Leaf Award for the Human Figure, Open Show 2015, Oak Ridge Art Center
2015 Finalist, PWAT National Art Contest
2015 Mildred and David Wood Senior Art Prize, Centre College
2014 Honorable Mention, LexArts University Open, Downtown Gallery
2013 Best Work on Paper Award, Open Show 2013, Oak Ridge Art Center
ASSISTANTSHIPS
2020 Sculpture Assistant, Stone Voices College Station, Texas
2015 Apprenticeship, Keystone College Glass Build Factoryville, Pennsylvania
2014 -2015 Drawing Studio Assistant, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 Glass Studio Assistant, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023 -2024 Teaching Assistant, Laguna College of Art + Design, Laguna Beach, California
2021 -2022 High School Art Teacher, A&M Consolidated High School College Station, Texas
2019 -2021 Drawing Instructor, Degallery College Station, Texas
2020 High School Art Teacher, Bryan High School, Bryan, Texas
2017 -2019 Middle School Art Teacher, Del Valle Middle School Austin, Texas
2016 -2017 Xtra Education Art Instructor, Parks & Recreation College Station, Texas
2016 -2017 Art Educator, Arts Council of Brazos Valley College Station, Texas
2012 -2016 Acrylic Painting Instructor, PWAT Knoxville, Tennessee
2013 -2014 Visiting Artist/Bilingual Teacher, Habla School Mérida, México
OTHER EXPERIENCE
2023 -2024 Figure Drawing Moderator, Laguna College of Art + Design Laguna Beach, California
2023 -2024 Representative, LCAD Student Government Association Laguna Beach, California
2020 -2022 Figure Drawing Manager, Degallery, Bryan, Texas
2017, 2020 Figure Model, Purple Turtle Art Studio Bryan, Texas
2019 Art Coordinator, DVISD UIL Del Valle, Texas
2014 -2015 President, Student Art Society, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 -2015 Portrait Model, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
CREATIVE RESEARCH
2015 ID Ancient Glass: X-Ray Fluorescence in Art Historical Research, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
2014 Portrait of “Charlie” McCarthy, The Cormac McCarthy Journal vol. XII
2014 International Intelligence: Learning through Teaching in the Yucatán, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
2013 Synthesizing Synesthesia, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
COLLECTIONS
Laguna College of Art + Design Laguna Beach, California
Brazos Valley Gymnastics College Station, Texas
Office for Global Citizenship, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Student Life Office, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Residence Life Office, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Grace Doherty Library, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Casa Centre, Centre College Mérida, México
Art & Spiritual Center Hillsdale, Michigan
KCHS Library Knoxville, Tennessee
2024 Laguna College of Art + Design, MFA in Painting Laguna Beach, California
2015 Centre College, Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Danville, Kentucky
PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS (** = solo show)
2024 Resonantly Me, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, California
2024 Reflections of Resilience, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition, LCAD Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
2024 New Year, New Art, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2023 ** Solo Show: Mind & Body, Mission Viejo Library, Mission Viejo, California
2023 Emerging Masters, LCAD Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
2023 2023 and Me, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2022 2000-2022: A Legacy in Glass, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
2022 Laguna Beach Juried Show, Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, California
2022 Plein-Journal, LCAD Library, Laguna Beach, California
2022 BCS Showcase, Reynolds Gallery at Texas A&M University College Station, Texas
2022 Art Educators Showcase, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley College Station, Texas
2022 Eric Theodore and High School Students, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2022 ** Featured Artist: Eric Theodore, The Frame Gallery Bryan, Texas
2021 DEGART 2021 International Competition, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2021 Sparkle, The Artists’ Circle Gallery Austin, Texas
2021 Fresh Paint 2021, Bryan Contemporary Artists Bryan, Texas
2020 DEGART 2020 International Competition, Degallery Bryan, Texas
2020 Eros, C’est La Vie, Gallery 110 Seattle, Washington
2019 ** Drawings & Paintings by Eric Theodore, Halcyon Austin, Texas
2019 Members’ Exhibition, Atelier Dojo, Austin, Texas
2019 Eric Theodore & DVMS Students, Degallery College Station, Texas
2017 Juried Show, Art979 Gallery Bryan, Texas
2017 ** New Art Vernissage: Eric Theodore, Degallery College Station, Texas
2016 Guerilla Art Takeover, Art 979 Gallery Bryan, Texas
2016 Artist-in- Residence Show, Horlock Art Gallery Navasota, Texas
2016 Happiness, Riddle Gallery Bryan, Texas
2015 Art in the Mayor’s Office, Arts & Culture Alliance Knoxville, Tennessee
2015 Arts in the Airport, McGhee-Tyson Airport Knoxville, Tennessee
2015 Open Show 2015, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
2015 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, The Guild of Artists Ann Arbor, Michigan
2015 Senior Art Exhibition, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 TAPPED 5, Manifest Gallery Cincinnati, Ohio
2014 SOFA, Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky
2014 LexArts University Open, Downtown Gallery Lexington, Kentucky
2013 Open Show 2013, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
2013 From All Sides: The Figure, Oak Ridge Art Center Oak Ridge, Tennessee
AWARDS & HONORS
2024 Winner, Trustee’s Choice Award, Laguna College of Art + Design
2023 Finalist, Pacific Art Foundation, Pacific Art Foundatio
2022 Semi-Finalist, Art Renewal Center Salon International Competition
2021 1st Place, DEGART 2021 International Competition
2021 1st Place, Sparkle, The Artist’s Circle Gallery
2020 Honorable Mention, DEGART 2020 International Competition, Degallery
2017 People’s Choice Award, Juried Show, Art979 Gallery
2016 Navasota Artist Residency, Arts Council of Brazos Valley
2015 Golden Fig Leaf Award for the Human Figure, Open Show 2015, Oak Ridge Art Center
2015 Finalist, PWAT National Art Contest
2015 Mildred and David Wood Senior Art Prize, Centre College
2014 Honorable Mention, LexArts University Open, Downtown Gallery
2013 Best Work on Paper Award, Open Show 2013, Oak Ridge Art Center
ASSISTANTSHIPS
2020 Sculpture Assistant, Stone Voices College Station, Texas
2015 Apprenticeship, Keystone College Glass Build Factoryville, Pennsylvania
2014 -2015 Drawing Studio Assistant, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 Glass Studio Assistant, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023 -2024 Teaching Assistant, Laguna College of Art + Design, Laguna Beach, California
2021 -2022 High School Art Teacher, A&M Consolidated High School College Station, Texas
2019 -2021 Drawing Instructor, Degallery College Station, Texas
2020 High School Art Teacher, Bryan High School, Bryan, Texas
2017 -2019 Middle School Art Teacher, Del Valle Middle School Austin, Texas
2016 -2017 Xtra Education Art Instructor, Parks & Recreation College Station, Texas
2016 -2017 Art Educator, Arts Council of Brazos Valley College Station, Texas
2012 -2016 Acrylic Painting Instructor, PWAT Knoxville, Tennessee
2013 -2014 Visiting Artist/Bilingual Teacher, Habla School Mérida, México
OTHER EXPERIENCE
2023 -2024 Figure Drawing Moderator, Laguna College of Art + Design Laguna Beach, California
2023 -2024 Representative, LCAD Student Government Association Laguna Beach, California
2020 -2022 Figure Drawing Manager, Degallery, Bryan, Texas
2017, 2020 Figure Model, Purple Turtle Art Studio Bryan, Texas
2019 Art Coordinator, DVISD UIL Del Valle, Texas
2014 -2015 President, Student Art Society, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
2014 -2015 Portrait Model, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
CREATIVE RESEARCH
2015 ID Ancient Glass: X-Ray Fluorescence in Art Historical Research, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
2014 Portrait of “Charlie” McCarthy, The Cormac McCarthy Journal vol. XII
2014 International Intelligence: Learning through Teaching in the Yucatán, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
2013 Synthesizing Synesthesia, RICE Academic Symposium, Centre College
COLLECTIONS
Laguna College of Art + Design Laguna Beach, California
Brazos Valley Gymnastics College Station, Texas
Office for Global Citizenship, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Student Life Office, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Residence Life Office, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Grace Doherty Library, Centre College Danville, Kentucky
Casa Centre, Centre College Mérida, México
Art & Spiritual Center Hillsdale, Michigan
KCHS Library Knoxville, Tennessee