top of page

The World Without Us Series, 2022-2026

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Last edited 2026.02

​I incorporate scrap materials from my “day job,” painting murals and large-scale backdrops and scenery (for television, theatre, museums, cruise ships, parades, retail displays etc.) to make colorful, inventive, post-human paintings and collages. Working in the entertainment and production industries keeps me acutely aware of the colossal amount of waste they create, and I often salvage materials such as scrap lumber, muslin, and offcuts from CNC routers that would ultimately end up in dumpsters. When painting, I use leftover scenic and mural paint to ground my canvases, and my color palettes are inspired by used stir-sticks that I have been hoarding for years. I even peel the dried paint from the inside of my five-gallon mixing buckets: these "paint skins," as I think of them, are truly beautiful as objects in and of themselves and have been the basis for hundreds of collages in an ongoing series.​​​

Contact me  for purchase inquiries.

The War of 1812 triptych for special exhibition, 2026
The following three paintings were created especially for 25 Decades, a novel exhibition at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA. Each exhibiting artist would create work representing a different decade in US history as part of the year-long America 250 celebrations being held in and around Greater Philadelphia in 2026.
I represented the years 1806-1815 and focused on events that occurred during the War of 1812. 
2026.05.27 WAR OF 1812_01 SACKETS HARBOR.jpg

1.  The War of 1812: Battle of Sacket's Harbor. May 28-29, 1813

Oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin. 24 x 24"

2026

 

On May 27th, 1813, British naval forces were deployed from lower Canada, crossing Lake Ontario to New York State. They arrived on May 28th with the intention of capturing Sacket's Harbor, a significant dockyard on the American side of the lake. While the battle ended with an American victory, much of the village of Sackets Harbor was destroyed by friendly fire. 

2.  The War of 1812: Burning of Washington, August 24th 1814 (after Tom Freeman)

Oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin. 24 x 24"

2026

 

From August 24th-25th, 1814, British forces invaded Washington DC, where they proceeded to set fire to- and ultimately destroy- the White House, Capitol, and other government buildings. President James Madison fled to Brookeville, Maryland which became "Capital for a Day." This event, often referred to as the "Capture of Washington," is the only time since the American Revolutionary War that a foreign power has captured and occupied an American capital.

2026.05.27 WAR OF 1812_02 BURNING OF WASHINGTON.jpg
2.
3.
2026.05.27 WAR OF 1812_03 BATTLE OF BALTIMORE.jpg

3. The War of 1812: Battle of Baltimore, September 12-14, 1814, and the Star-Spangled Banner

Oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin. 24 x 24"

2026

 

While imprisoned by the British during the attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key was famously inspired to write a poem called "The Defence of Fort M'Henry."  The poem described Key's relief and amazement of seeing the American Flag still flying over Fort McHenry after the smoke began to clear (signaling an American victory). His verses were later set to the tune of a British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven."  In 1931, Congress officially adopted what is now known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the country's National Anthem. 

The World Without Us series, 2022-present
2025.05 The World Without Us. Storm King after Sarah Sze.jpg
The World Without Us: Storm King, after Sarah Sze
17x17" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2025
2025.05.jpg
The World Without Us: Playa de la Caleta
17 x 17" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2025
2025.05 Hippos.jpg
The World Without Us: Sarova Mara
12 x 12" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2025
2025.03.17a RADIUM GIRLS.jpg
2025.05 The World Without Us. Rocktown Trail.jpg
The World Without Us: Rocktown Trail
12 x 12" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin
2025
2025.05 The World Without Us. Gators.jpg
The World Without Us: Alameda Apodaca
12 x 12" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2025
2025.03.17c RADIUM GIRLS.jpg
The World Without Us: Radium Girls -sold
(after the short story "St. Lucia Brings the Light" by Cameron Walker)

9x9"" oil, phosphorescent acrylic and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin, UV lamp
2025
2025.02.22 HALEAKALA.jpg
The World Without Us: Haleakala
12x12" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2025
2023.10.25.jpg
The World Without Us: End Days (Every Other Wednesday)
12 x 12" oil and latex on reclaimed wood panel
2023
2023.10.25.jpg
The World Without Us: Cadillac Mountain- sold
17 x 17" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin
2023
2023.10.25 02.jpg
The World Without Us: As the Sun Drips Down
8 x 8" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin
2023
2023.10.25 EARTH DAY.jpg
The World Without Us: Earth Day
10 x 10" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin
2023
2022.06.15 BACKYARD OASIS.jpg

The World Without Us: Backyard Oasis

16 x 16" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin

2022

2022.06 RE-EMERGING.jpg

The World Without Us: Re-Emerging-sold

12 x 12" oil and latex on scenic muslin

2022

2023.10.25.jpg
The World Without Us: Ghost of a Chance
17 x 17" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2023
2023.10.25.jpg
The World Without Us: Soft Passages
17 x 17" oil and scenic latex on reclaimed muslin
2023
2023.10.25 URBAN LANDSCAPING.jpg
The World Without Us: Urban Landscaping
12 x 12" oil and latex on reclaimed wood panel
2023
2023.10.25 MINNEAPOLIS.jpg
The World Without Us: Minneapolis
12 x 12" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin
2023
2023.03.28 FOX HOLE.jpg
The World Without Us: Nowhere to Be
14 x 14"  oil, latex and peeled paint on reclaimed scenic muslin
2023
2022.06 JANUARY THAW.jpg

The World Without Us: January Thaw

17 x 17" oil and latex on reclaimed scenic muslin

2022

IN PROGRESS 01_edited.jpg

The World Without Us: Silent Night

8 x 8" oil and latex on scenic muslin

2022

Circle.jpg

ERICA HARNEY, ARTIST

Original + Custom Paintings, Murals + Scenery

bottom of page