Erik’s exceptional artistic approach is a well-balanced feat as a creative artist, an environmentalist and a smart entrepreneur. Erik creates stunning art murals by reusing keys from old computer keyboards. His love for art and creativity has been perpetually encouraged by his mother as well as his ceramics teacher and has given him confidence and resulted in life-enriching experiences. Erik started with the mural idea in 2013 and became a full-time artist and entrepreneur by 2018. To this date, he has used more than 300,000 computer keys in his stunning murals with themes like landmarks, space and company logo commissions. Erik has won many awards including the 2018 People's Choice Award at the Utah Arts Festival.

How did you get the idea to use recycled computer keyboard parts for creating amazing art murals? What is the largest mural you created so far?E: I was bothered that keyboards are not recycled well and often thrown away. They have so much history so I started to make art out of them. My largest one is 18 by 9 feet. It is 40,000 keys built for a big tech company in Boston, MA.

What is your most memorable work and why?E: I love each art work when I build them. I try not get too attached to them so I can let other enjoys them. That part of the job as an artist. One of my top favorites is the Starry Night. I had a set back when there was a death in my family and this was the first piece I made after that got me going again.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?E: I was often told I was dumb and that I'm limited because of my hearing loss. I was made fun of all the time. I would sometimes let myself believe it but then I learned to to fight it and know now that we are each smart and special in our own ways. I did not do well academically in the beginning, but I was always a good artist. I express myself better with art than words.

Which artist has inspired you the most?E: Jeff Koons, Chuck Close, and James Christensen (Utah local artist). Koons does big and that's my dream. Close has a disability that he overcame and uses lots of patterns, as do I. And Christensen's art I saw all the time growing up and was inspired by his imagination and characters.

What are your other hobbies?E: I like to be unique. Computer key art might not be common, but riding a 36-inch unicycle isn't either. I love riding it when I can though!

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?E: Anywhere warm; I'm not a fan of the cold, nor the sickness ;)

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?E: Let your child be them. Allow their natural skills to emerge and support it. Never think they are dumb or they might believe it. Just because they are disabled in one area doesn't mean they aren't able to do anything---they are going to excel at so many other things. Help them find what they are and be the best they can be at them.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in exploring their creativity?E: Understand that anyone that does creative fields are a value to the society.

Any special message for our community?E: There needs to be doctors, lawyers, and teachers, but there also needs to be artists. We need a diverse community in how we think--it helps the world function.