Erasto Curtis Matthews

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, Erasto Curtis Matthews

moved to the Washington DC area over 30 years ago as a student at Howard University. He began

exploring his artistic talents as a teenager by drawing portraits of friends, family and his favorite

musicians. Self-taught, he began painting later in life and his unique abstraction-based style is heavily

influenced by elements of African culture and African American life. His work is grounded in

vibrant color combinations and unique otherworldly settings. Erasto’s work has appeared in the

pages of the Washington Post (2/4/2022). He is currently showing his work at the Barn Gallery at

Wellspring Manor in an ongoing exhibit that started in 2018. He has exhibited his work at The DC

Black Theater and Arts Festival, Neiman Marcus/Black Art Today "Kuumba'' Exhibition, The Lake

Arbor Jazz Festival, Wolfgang Puck's Sunset Room, National Harbor, Gateway Arts Center's 39th

Street Gallery, Brentwood Maryland, Artomatic DC, DC Art All Night, Athenaeum Gallery's

"Speak Your Truth - Black Lives Matter" Exhibition, Wheaton Arts Parade Gallery "Celebration"

Exhibition, Bowie Maryland City Hall and Busboys and Poets Anacostia. Erasto also has work at

Serengeti Gallery, Capitol Heights Maryland.

I am inspired by the Sun and what it does to things from an artistic perspective. I love the beauty of

nature and the beauty of people. I am interested in the world community and all the inspiration that

it has to offer.

With each piece of Art I create, my goal is to open a window to the imagination. In my abstract

pieces, I want people to see something new each day. I believe my art is the doorway to a conversation between the spirit and the elemental self.