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Erica von Essen is a visual artist based in Umeå, Sweden, whose work is deeply rooted in the exploration of personal emotions and experiences. After a decade working as a payroll manager, Erica rediscovered her creativity, which led her to study art and immerse herself in analog photography. Today she primarily works with pinhole, photograms, and Polaroid. Her practice emphasizes the beauty of imperfection, using the uncontrolled nature of these techniques.
She often combines the photography with embroidery to create tactile, contemplative pieces. Her art encourages the viewer to slow down, while also offering a glimpse into her own inner struggles and emotions. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including recent shows in Portugal, the US, and Italy.
As someone who has taken several classes at Ágora School of Experimentation, I can say that each course has really contributed to my artistic journey. However, the most valuable experience for me has been the Collective Mentorship of Experimental Projects.
One of the most remarkable aspects was the strong sense of community. Connecting with like-minded artists who are passionate about experimental photography has been invaluable. Many of the relationships I built there continue to thrive, offering ongoing support and inspiration.
I was deeply inspired to see and hear about the creative process of fellow artists—seeing their work evolve and to hear about their vision. This experience broadened my perspective, allowing me to view my own work in a new way and helping me to understand the importance of connecting technique to message.
The constructive feedback I received on my project encouraged me to think critically about my artistic intentions and methods. It wasn’t just about refining my technical skills; it was about asking myself why I made certain choices and what message I aimed to convey. The course both gave me the tools and the confidence to explore this more deeply.
Featured Project
Comfort IN is long-term project that I have been working on for two years now. It is a personal journey of healing, created together with my sister. Each month, we meet to take photographs together using pinhole cameras. It´s a slow and reflective process that mirrors our own journey of healing. It's about working through difficult experiences from our youth, and for me, it's also about confronting my feelings of not being there for her when she needed me most.
The cameras are made from comfort food packaging, and they symbolize the avoidance we've both have had for 20 years. As we create these images, we not only open up to healing it also deepen our sisterhood. We are finding comfort together through the slow act of pinhole photography.
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