Soft Geometry, 2026

We are pleased to present ‘Soft Geometry’’ an exhibition of new paintings by Erica Hauser. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, December 12 from 5 pm to 7 pm.

In this new body of work, Hauser continues her exploration of organic forms, curving lines, and a deep preoccupation with the subtleties of color. The hues of vintage textiles, toys and photographs are additional references for shades of faded gold and coral pink, bits of burnt orange, spruce and aqua. Her undulating lines, arcs, and round-edged forms all create a poetic sense of spatial flow throughout each painting.

Within the precisely painted edges of each piece, there is a softness and peacefulness rather than a rigidity. Pulling inspiration from her seasonal job as a firewood stacker, she relies on her intuition to translate geometric arrangements on to canvas, resulting in compositions that feel balanced and cathartic. This ‘soft geometry’ has become a distinct characteristic of Hauser’s work, where hard work meets a meditative and considered way of painting.

In ‘Composition Fennel/Pistachio/Leaf”, the edges of three large rounded shapes touch each other gently against a dark midnight blue background. “Cobalt Sightlines” and “Epiphany Turquoise” are both painted to feature thin white outlines of connecting half-circles against distinct blues. “Meditation: Tree Pollen” is an arrangement to evoke the  light chartreuse of early spring buds, stacked on painted vintage off-white. She is influenced by mid-century modern designers and artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Russel Wright, and Sophie Taeuber-Arp.

Born in Brewster, NY, Erica Hauser holds a BFA from School of Visual Arts and is based in Beacon, NY. She exhibits regularly throughout the Hudson Valley. From 2013-2020 she owned Catalyst Gallery in Beacon. In 2022 she received a NYSCA Statewide Community Regrant through Arts Mid-Hudson, and an Awesome Newburgh grant to expand a local public artwork. She has created installations for ArtYard Kingston, Terrain Biennial Newburgh, and Beacon 3D. Her art has been featured on West Elm, Saatchi Art, Chronogram, and Hyperallergic. While she has always lived in New York State, she has found inspiration and clarity at artist residencies in New Mexico and Vermont in 2011 and 2012, and a retreat in southern California in 2025. 

This is Erica’s second solo exhibition at Robin Rice Gallery.