> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.catapult-platform.art/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Erik Sommer Looks for Decay, Not Perfection - URL: https://www.catapult-platform.art/meet-erik-sommer-artist-and-curator-and-founder-of-mott-projects-new-york/ - Published: 2025-03-12T08:38:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-01T19:01:28.000Z - Description: Artist, curator and founder of Mott Projects, Erik Sommer discusses decay, attention, and what he looks for beyond polished surfaces - Author: Dominique Catherina Foertig - Tags: Projects ## **Why Ruins Still Matter** [**Erik Sommer**](https://eriksommer.art/?ref=catapult-platform.art) is a contemporary artist and curator whose work re-creates the urban decay and overlooked textures of time-worn structures. [%%title%% %%page%% %%sitename%%Mott Projects: Contemporary Art. Features interviews, exhibition reviews and musings with emerging and established international contemporary artists.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/cropped-mott-projects-1-270x270-2.jpg)Mott Projects: Contemporary Art Project Space. Features exhibitions and interviews with contemporary artists.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/always-fresh-1.jpg)](https://mottprojects.com/?ref=catapult-platform.art) ****Erik Sommer Mott Projects** \- Read more [Wo - Erik SommerErik Sommer is a New York based artist and curator![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/favicon-8.ico)Erik Sommer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/Lets-All-Go-to-the-Disco-Disco-800x960.jpg)](https://eriksommer.art/?ref=catapult-platform.art) ****Erik Sommer Art** Known for his evocative cement installations, layered paintings, and an affinity for controlled chaos in his materials, Sommer has established himself as both a prolific artist and a significant voice in the contemporary art scene. ![mott projects](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/erik-sommer-mott-projects.jpg) ****Erik Sommer’s** abstract paintings on view at Mott Projects, New York | Courtesy and permission of the artist. His works, often described as meditations on erosion and permanence, capture the fragile balance between destruction and preservation, revealing the poetry hidden in crumbling surfaces. Beyond his personal practice, Sommer is the founder of ***Mott Projects***, a curatorial platform and exhibition space that has become a touchstone for emerging and mid-career artists internationally. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/best-abstract-us-painter.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/new-face-in-contemporary-art.jpg) ****Erik Sommer:** (left) "Green Green Grass’ stained spray paint on raw canvas 38” x 32” (right) ‘Lost Candy’ stained spray paint on raw canvas 48” x 42” Permission and courtesy of the Artist His project is more than a gallery; it is an incubator for artistic dialogue, offering exhibitions, interviews, and critical engagement with contemporary art’s evolving landscape. > *“Success means different things to different people. Some artists are in it for the money and glory, while others just need to make art regardless of whether it sells.”* — Erik Sommer With a background in painting that evolved from early admiration of the Abstract Expressionists to an expansive, installation-based approach, Sommer’s journey into the art world was anything but conventional. ![erik sommer artwork](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/abstract-sculpture.jpg) ****Erik Sommer:** untitled drywall sculpture drywall, joint compound, paint, cement 63” x 48” x 25” | Permission an courtesy of the Artist A former musician, he transitioned into the visual arts upon realizing that his relationship with painting offered a level of intimacy and return that performance could not. ![installation art now](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/installation-art-2025.jpg) Erik Sommer - **Volvo 240* \- Cement installation - Image Courtesy of the Artist His early fascination with artists like Pollock and de Kooning later led him to appreciate the interventions of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, which shifted his practice beyond the canvas, inviting new forms of sculptural and site-specific engagement. ### **The Art of Time and Texture | Erik Sommers Practice** Sommer’s practice is deeply rooted in the material language of decay. ![erik sommer artist](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/erik-sommer-artist.webp) ****Erik Sommer** \- **Untitled* street posters and paint on wood 244cm x 122cm - Permission and courtesy of the artist His paintings and sculptures embrace a process-driven approach, where accidents are welcomed as essential components of the final composition. ![erik sommer artist studio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/erik-sommer.jpg) ****Erik Sommer** \- Studio View | Permission and courtesy of the artist In his recent spray paint works, he saturates his surfaces, allowing pigment to seep through and create dual compositions—an intentional surface and an accidental verso, each holding its own unique presence. This play between intention and chance mirrors the unpredictable patterns of nature, a core theme in his work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/abstract-art-now.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/erik-sommer-.webp) ****Erik Sommer:** (left) street posters and gluten-free wheatpaste (right) ‘Let’s All Go to the Disco Disco’ stained spray paint on raw canvas 62” x 54” - Permission and Courtesy of the artist His cement installations, on the other hand, present a haunting realism—abandoned structures, forgotten relics, and city fragments reimagined in concrete. These sculptural pieces, ranging from repurposed urban detritus to full-scale immersive environments, invoke a sensation of eerie silence, as if time itself has been suspended. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/erik-sommer-artwork.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/new-york-best-abstract-artists.webp) ****Erik Sommer** \- (left) ‘Pure Color Flash’ stained spray paint on raw canvas 62” x 54” (right) Through these works, Sommer bridges the gap between documentation and transformation, making the viewer hyper-aware of the beauty embedded in deterioration. ## **Erik Sommers Mott Projects: A Space for Artistic Expansion** Founded in 2019, [***Mott Projects*** ](https://mottprojects.com/?ref=catapult-platform.art)started as a means to document and promote the work of fellow artists. ![mott projects](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/mott-projects.jpg) ****Mott Projects**, New York, featuring works by ****Erik Sommer** | Courtesy and permission of the artist. What began as an Instagram feed rapidly evolved into a full-fledged curatorial endeavor, featuring artist interviews, exhibition highlights, and collaborations with international talents. > *The Art World Can Be Tricky And Confusing And Unbelievably Fickle So A Solid Group Of Friends Is A Must.* Over the years, **Mott Projects** has showcased artists like JIRI Mayer, [**David Hanes**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/david-hanes-a-global-journey-through-paint-and-memory/), [**Gabriele Graessle**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/gabriele-graessle-contemporary-painting-now/), [**Katharina Arndt**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/mott-projects-new-york-by-erik-sommer/), [**Joseph O’Neal**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/joseph-oneal-abstraction-in-painting/), [**Abel Kabel**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/abel-kabel-the-danish-artist-turning-perfectionism-on-its-head/), Ricardo Passaporte, Stefan Wiens, [**Hunter Potter**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/hunter-potter-in-contemporary-painting-a/), Martin Lukáč, [**Sean Andrews**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/sean-andrews-aka-life-with-the-mac-emerging-aritst-los-angeles/) (*Shitartclub* L.A.)**,** [**Martin Paaskesen** ](https://www.catapult-platform.art/martin-paaskesen-from-stage-to-canvas-a-fresh-face-in-the-danish-contemporary-art-scene-2/) and David Surman, among many others. Sommer’s curatorial philosophy is centered on community and meaningful artistic exchange. [Mott Projects: Contemporary Art Project Space. Features exhibitions and interviews with contemporary artists.Recommendations of contemporary art exhibitions for October 2020.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/cropped-mott-projects-1-270x270-3.jpg)Mott Projects: Contemporary Art Project Space. Features exhibitions and interviews with contemporary artists.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/oneal_ts_eliot_1922_web-975x1200.jpg)](https://mottprojects.com/interviews/?ref=catapult-platform.art) Interviews by Erik Sommers with artist you have to know! Unlike traditional white cube galleries, [***Mott Projects*** ](https://mottprojects.com/?ref=catapult-platform.art)prioritizes engagement and recognition over commercial success, often serving as a launchpad for artists to gain international exposure. ![mott projects](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/03/mott-projects-new-york.jpg) ****Erik Sommer and Mott Projects** has presented ‘narcissistic tendencies’, a solo exhibition by London based artist Hetty Douglas | Permission and Courtesy of the Artist His ability to identify and elevate talent has led to collaborations with established platforms like [***Platform.com***](https://www.platformart.com/artists/erik-sommer?ref=catapult-platform.art), further extending the reach of his curatorial vision. **Next Move:** ADDING A KISS - Opens March 29 in collaboration with [@constant\_dschungel](https://www.instagram.com/constant%5Fdschungel/?ref=catapult-platform.art) \- GERMANY --- ## **More about Erik Sommer on Instagram** [**Erik Sommer on Instagram** ](https://www.instagram.com/erik%5F%5F%5Fsommer/?ref=catapult-platform.art) [**Mott Projects on Instagram** ](https://www.instagram.com/mott%5Fprojects/?ref=catapult-platform.art) --- ## Related Reads: [David Hanes: A Global Journey Through Paint and MemoryExplore the world of David Hanes, a Berlin-based artist whose practice intertwines nature, travel, and memory through oil and watercolor paintings that echo the ephemeral beauty of his nomadic life![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/munchies-art-club-magazine-65.png)Munchies Art Club MagazineDominique Catherina Foertig![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/david-hanes-1.webp)](https://www.catapult-platform.art/david-hanes-a-global-journey-through-paint-and-memory/) David Hanes on of Erik Sommer Mott Projects Artist -> [Hetty Douglas: “Dense Emotions in Acrylic Confessions” in Conversation with DiFrancoInterview with London-based artist Hetty Douglas and DiFranco for Munchies Art Club — on abstraction, emotion, and the raw power of materials like spray paint and cement.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/munchies-art-club-magazine-156.png)Munchies Art Club MagazineDi Franco![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/hetty-douglas--artist.jpg)](https://www.catapult-platform.art/hetty-douglas/) Interview with Hetty Douglas [Martin Paaskesen: From Stage to Canvas - A Fresh Face in the Danish Contemporary Art SceneExplore Martin Paaskesen’s shift from acting to contemporary painting, showcasing his dynamic style and emotional depth in his statement ‘Conflicts’.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/munchies-art-club-magazine-473.png)Catapult - The New Munchies Art Club | Critical CuratorsDominique Catherina Foertig![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/martin-paaskesen-2.webp)](https://www.catapult-platform.art/martin-paaskesen-from-stage-to-canvas-a-fresh-face-in-the-danish-contemporary-art-scene-2/) Martin Paaskesen - Artist Spotlight [Gabrielle Grässle: Paintings that sing in bright grammarSwiss-born painter Gabrielle Grässle turns bold color and simple forms into sharp, funny, tender paintings that read like songs.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/munchies-art-club-magazine-474.png)Catapult - The New Munchies Art Club | Critical CuratorsDominique Catherina Foertig![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/gabrielle-gra-ssle-3.webp)](https://www.catapult-platform.art/gabriele-graessle-contemporary-painting-now/) Gabriele Grasse - Artist Spotlight --- ## No fluff. 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