Esther Ervin

Esther Ervin is an interdisciplinary visual artist originally from Somerville, New Jersey. She holds a BS in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, with additional studies at the American University of Beirut. After serving in the Peace Corps, she earned an MFA in Fine Art/Illustration from California State University, Long Beach.  

Her commitment to art was rekindled while in the Peace Corps in Colombia, where she taught art, science, and Spanish at a rural farm school. A second assignment, working with coffee-growing families, introduced her to indigenous handcrafts and their importance in community building. These experiences, along with her contributions to the Peace Corps Health Handbook, solidified her dedication to a life in art.  

Today, her practice centers on book arts and mixed-media work exploring themes of environment, politics, and abstraction. Alongside her studio practice, she is actively engaged in curatorial and community arts initiatives, including the Garfield Super Block and the Black Arts West Alumni Association.  

Throughout her career, Esther has curated numerous exhibitions, served on selection panels, created public art installations, and presented six solo exhibitions, most recently at the Elizabeth C. Miller Library at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. Her permanent public artworks are installed at the Liberty Bank Building, the Jackson Apartments, and the Wayfarer Building in Seattle’s Yesler Terrace neighborhood. She has works in the Cynthia Sears Artists’ Book Collection at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Her jewelry has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including in Washington, Oregon, China, Poland, and Lithuania.