Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Erika Morillo is a freelance photographer and artist based in New York City. She studied clinical psychology and sociology, which influenced her to photograph as a way to understand her family dynamics and the social environment she inhabits. Her work focuses on the issues of family, inner-city life and the finding of identity. Her photographs have been published and exhibited nationally and internationally. Her photobooks are in the collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art Library and The International Center of Photography Library. She lives in Manhattan with her son Amaru and is currently pursuing an MFA at Image Text Ithaca.
Statement
The main driving force behind my work is investigating my genealogy and how family history intersects with self-identity. I explore these issues through documentary and vernacular photography, writing and performance. At the core of my practice currently lies a deep interest in utilizing found photographs and archival imagery as a tool for reimagining family narratives and the aspects of the female experience that have been affected by the attitudes of a patriarchal society. I believe examining our family history and the way intimate relationships shape our identity is important. By exploring the deeply personal, I aim to shed light on the structures that continue to shape me.
Exhibits
Solo
2019 "Umbral", Blue Sky Gallery (Portland, Oregon)
2018 "Umbral", Casa Quien (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
2017 "All of Them", Storefront Project Gallery (New York City, USA)
2015 "Amor Quiltro", Café Quiltro (Santiago, Chile)
Group
2018 "La otra mirada(BIS)" Video y fotografía emergente dominicana", Centro de la Imagen (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
2018 "La otra mirada, video y fotografía emergente dominicana", Festival Photoimagen, Casa de Teatro (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
2018 "Black and White: 2017", Specto Art Space (Bridgewater, Virginia)
2017 "Luminous", Arc Gallery and Studios (San Francisco, California)
2017 "Focus: Narrative Photography", Black Box Gallery (Portland, Oregon)
2017 "A Surreal Vision", Millepiani (Rome, Italy)
2017 "Immediate Surroundings: The 2017 En Foco Photography Fellowship Exhibition" (New York City, USA)
2017 "The Image of the Savage", Millepiani (Rome, Italy)
2014 "Gagá pa’l Pueblo Photographic Songs", City Council District Office (New York City, USA)
2012 "Santiago a Pulso", FotoCine Club (Santiago, Chile)
2011 "Human Echo: A Group Photography Exhibit", Space Womb Gallery (New York City, USA)
2011 "The Space Between: Photo Stories Printed on Handmade Paper", BronxArtSpace
(New York City, USA)
Performance
2018 "With Holdings", in collaboration with Lu Heintz. Arts, Letters & Numbers (Averill Park, New York)
Presentations, Panels and Talks
2019 "Moonlight" presented at the #WIP Photography Slideshow at Mana Contemporary Museum.
2019 "Umbral" photobook presented as part of the Image Text Ithaca Press booth at the New York Art Book Fair.
2019 "Umbral" presented as part of Foto Féminas' booth at the Singapore Art Book Fair.
2019 "Umbral" Book launch with Tim Soter and his photobook ForTress. International Center of Photography Library (New York City, USA)
2018 "Vernacular Photography and Narrative in Photobooks" panel with Melissa Catanese and Gillian McCain. NY Art Book Fair 2018, MoMA PS1 (New York City, USA)
2018 "Libros de artistas. Prácticas editoriales vecinas" panel with Kolektif 2D and La Impresora, Junta de Libros Vecinos, Casa Quien (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
2017 "Umbral", Open Show Toronto (Toronto, Canada)
Publications
Pardo, April 2020
The Documentary Family Awards Blog, March, 2020
The New Yorker, Instagram Takeover, November 2019
Foto Féminas, Instagram Takeover, October 2018
A5 Magazine, August 2018
Wotisart Magazine, July and August 2018
Latinas in Media, July 2018
Asterix Journal, December 2017
Artconnect, August 2017
F-Stop Magazine, June 2017
Nueva Luz Magazine, May 2017
Float Photo Magazine, May 2017
Artconnect, Staff Picks: "Interiors", "Black and White", April 2017/May 2017
Edge of Humanity Magazine, "Dogs Keeping The Natural Rhythm of Life on the Streets of
Chile ", February 2017
The Idealist España, February 2017
Latinas in Media, February 2017
Woven Tale Press Magazine, February 2017
F-Stop Magazine, December 2016
El País, December 2014
Voices, Journal of New York Folklore Society, (cover image), Vol. 39, Fall-Winter 2013
Circuito SD, January 2013
Acento, November 2012
The Uptown Collective, "No a la reforma - NYC protests in pictures", November 2012
NACLA Report on the Americas Magazine, "Occupy - Resistance to Global Capitalism in the Americas", Vol. 45, Summer 2012
Boro Magazine, "Is Occupy here to stay?", January 2012
The New York Times, Weekend Miser, February 2011
Awards
2019 PHMuseum's Best Photobooks of The Year 2019
2018 Ithaca College Dean’s Fellowship recipient
2019 Nominated for PDN's 30: New and Emerging Photographers to Watch
2018 Documentary Family Awards Winner, Photo Series category
2018 Specto Art Space Anything Art Grant Recipient
2017 En Foco Photography Fellowship recipient
Shortlisted for 2017 Lucie Foundation Emerging Photographer Award
Photogrvphy Grant 2017 Nominee
Residencies
2018 Arts, Letters & Numbers