Eri Ishii

Oil on Canvas

Received grants in 2009, 2010 and 2015

Eri Ishii was born in Japan and now lives and works in Vancouver, Canada. Her work stems from her love of oil paint, as its buttery texture and depth of colours open a portal to a world inside to explore memory, psychological spaces, and identity.

Eri has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Canada and internationally including Halde Galerie in Switzerland and Taiwan National Art Education Museum in Taiwan. Her works can be seen in the public collections such as Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, and Kobushi Rehabilitation Centre in Japan. She is currently represented by Ian Tan Gallery in Vancouver.

How has receiving a DTES Small Arts Grant supported your development as an artist?

Receiving DTES Small Arts Grant helped me broaden my audience base as I used the funds to hire a web designer to build and maintain my website.

How has DTES Small Arts Grants helped DTES artists?

DTES Small Arts Grants is easy and simple to apply, which is very different from other grants where artists are required to go through hoops to access funds. This is very helpful especially for DTES artists as the support is immediate and artists receive funds right when they need it.

How has DTES Small Arts Grants impacted the community?

DTES Arts Grants strengthens the community by empowering the artists in the neighbourhood. Artists who may not have other means to continue or develop their practice are encouraged to apply, and that, in turn, enriches the community.