Erik Sommer: The Artist, Curator & Mott Projects Founder Shaping the Art Scene
Discover Erik Sommer, the artist, curator, and founder of Mott Projects, as he joins Munchies Art Club’s March Open Call jury. Explore his unique perspective on contemporary art, curating, and what he looks for in emerging talent.
Erik Sommer-The Artist: Capturing the Beauty of Decay
Erik Sommer is a contemporary artist and curator whose work re-creates the urban decay and overlooked textures of time-worn structures.
Erik Sommer Mott Projects - Read more
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
His paintings and sculptures embrace a process-driven approach, where accidents are welcomed as essential components of the final composition.
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.
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.
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 started as a means to document and promote the work of fellow artists.
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, Gabriele Graessle, Katharina Arndt, Joseph O’Neal, Abel Kabel, Ricardo Passaporte, Stefan Wiens, Hunter Potter, Martin Lukáč, Sean Andrews (Shitartclub L.A.), Martin Paaskesen and David Surman, among many others.
Dominique Catherina Foertig
David Hanes on of Erik Sommer Mott Projects Artist ->
Interviews by Erik Sommers with artist you have to know!
Sommer’s curatorial philosophy is centered on community and meaningful artistic exchange.
Unlike traditional white cube galleries, Mott Projects prioritizes engagement and recognition over commercial success, often serving as a launchpad for artists to gain international exposure.
His ability to identify and elevate talent has led to collaborations with established platforms like Platform.com, further extending the reach of his curatorial vision.
Next Move: ADDING A KISS - Opens March 29 in collaboration with @constant_dschungel - GERMANY
Erik Sommer x Munchies Art Club: March 2025 Open Call Juror
For the March 2025 Open Call at Munchies Art Club, Erik Sommer steps in as the guest juror, bringing his unique perspective on materiality, process, and artistic authenticity.
His role as juror aligns perfectly with the club’s mission to spotlight innovative contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of their mediums.
Artists submitting to this Open Call can expect their work to be evaluated by someone who deeply understands artistic experimentation, non-traditional approaches, and the value of conceptual rigor.
This collaboration marks an exciting moment for both Erik Sommer and Munchies Art Club, as it bridges two curatorial forces dedicated to fostering contemporary art outside conventional institutional frameworks.
For artists looking to be part of a thought-provoking selection, this is an opportunity to have their work seen by an artist-curator who has consistently championed emerging voices and elevated underrepresented perspectives.
Apply now for the chance to be featured, for an Instagram Post on Munchies Art Club and reviewed by Erik Sommer, and stay tuned for the selected artists, who will be highlighted in Munchies Art Club and beyond.
Erik Sommer on Instagram
Mott Projects on Instagram
Comments ()