Rothstein, Erin

Technique : Acrylic

Erin Rothstein is a Canadian artist, born in Montreal and currently living and working in Toronto. In her latest series, “The Tasting Room,” Rothstein uses her signature hyperrealist style to portray edible subjects on stark-white background.

“I paint food because I love everything that has to do with food-culture,” Rothstein explains. “You’ll often find me cooking and eating, all the while engrossed in a total culinary experience of smells, tastes, and aesthetics. The foods I paint are universally relatable. They trigger people’s emotions on a very primal level, making them happy, hungry, excited, and nostalgic.”

Rothstein has been carving out a new space for hyperrealism within the context of today’s art-market. Her work combines academic techniques with innovative subjects and compositions, in order to showcase hyperrealism as a whimsical and fresh-faced style. Rothstein brings art and food closer together, fostering a new appreciation of art in an immersive foodie-culture.

Rothstein holds a BFA from Concordia University, where she specialized in painting and drawing. She also holds an MA from The University of Western Ontario, where she studied in detail the evolution of décor in modern art. The Tasting Room Series has received a Scotiabank Viewers Choice Award, as well as support from the Ontario Arts Council. This series has also received recognition in The Huffington Post, The National Post, Architectural Digest and Toronto Life. Rothstein’s work is held in major collections including Google and The Colart Collection.

Erin’s interdisciplinary experience in the arts and fierce commitment to the realm of contemporary aesthetics lends itself to projects that are highly nuanced and refreshingly innovative.