Erika Cosby facts for kids

Erika Ranee Cosby, born on April 8, 1965, is an American artist known for her paintings. She is the daughter of Camille Cosby and Bill Cosby, a famous comedian.

Her Early Life and Education

Erika Ranee Cosby was born in Los Angeles, California on April 8, 1965. She was the oldest of five children born to Camille and Bill Cosby. All five children's names started with the letter E, standing for "excellence." Erika has two sisters, Erinn and Evin. She also had a brother, Ennis, and another sister, Ensa.

After high school, Erika went to Wesleyan University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1987. Next, she studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1989. She then attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1991. After finishing her master's degree, Erika also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine for a special summer art program.

Erika Cosby's Art Career

Erika Cosby is known for her abstract paintings. Abstract art uses shapes, colors, forms, and gestures to create a meaning. It doesn't always show things as they look in real life. Her art often explores how people are seen, especially in the media.

Awards and Special Programs

Erika Cosby has received several honors for her art. She was given a fellowship in painting from the New York Foundation for the Arts. From 2009 to 2010, she was an artist in residence at the Abrons Arts Center. This means she had a special place to work and create art there. In 2011, she also received a studio grant from The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation.

Teaching Art at University

From 2012 to 2013, Erika Cosby worked as an art professor. She taught at New York University, sharing her knowledge with students.

Famous Paintings and Shows

In 2014, one of her paintings was shown at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art. This was for the museum's 50th anniversary. The painting was called Hanging Out To Dry. It was a large, bright, and colorful painting. Erika explained that the painting showed dolls hanging from a clothesline. This suggested an uncertain future. The strong use of red colors in the painting showed how black people are often shown in a distorted way in culture.

In July 2015, Erika Cosby helped organize an art show in Brooklyn. It was called "Eye Contact" and featured art from several artists, including herself. She said she got the idea for the show from seeing marchers carrying a banner with the eyes of Eric Garner.

Erika Cosby's artwork has been displayed in many galleries. These include SALTWORKS Contemporary Art, the Arlington Arts Center, Slate Gallery, Artspace in New Haven, the Allegra LaViola Gallery, and The Last Brucennial.