Erika Rier & Joel Fleminger

CACOPHONY

on view 10/17/25-11/23/25

CACOPHONY is about the daily noise which surrounds us. Some noise is trivial, some funny, some serious, some important, and some we wish we could ignore. If we sit with the noise and let messages filter through the chaos, we may find things we need to hear, even if uncomfortable or painful. This collection is a mix of ceramic plates and vessels by Erika Rier, and a series of paintings by her husband Joel Fleminger.

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Paintings by Joel Fleminger

The images are a response to feeling discomfort in a world that is overstimulating. The process fluctuates between working with urgency and long pauses. As the composition becomes clear, space expands and contracts while forces push and pull. Although the works are invented abstractions, they are inspired by an appreciation for nature and art history.

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Bios:

Erika Rier

Erika Rier is a self-taught interdisciplinary artist creating mostly ceramics and art zines  in a style she calls folk surrealism. Writing was her first love and she still secretly writes  stories. Having lived in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, NYC, Arizona, and Washington  state; Erika now resides in Portland, OR. She also has one of each of the following: a  husband, a daughter, and a cat she found in a hallway.

View Erika's Website HERE

Joel Fleminger

Joel Fleminger grew up in St. Louis, MO. He attended Knox College in Galesburg IL where he received a Bachelors in Studio Art for painting and photography. After graduation he continued his studies in painting and drawing at the International School of Art in Umbria, Italy before a residency at the Vermont Studio Center. While not showing publicly, Joel continued his painting practice while balancing work and family. Since 2015 Joel and his family have lived in Portland, OR. His wife, Erika Rier (also featured here) is an interdisciplinary artist and together they have a daughter who is a professional chef.

Past Collections