ERNA dE VRIES is an artist and art educator depicting the urban industrialized landscape in her mixed media paintings. A fascination with the steel industry, a love of concrete and wax along with a respect for nature inspired her to incorporate these elements in her art.

Through the integration of diverse materials and subjects she hopes to portray an equilibrium between nature and industry while striving to maintain a reverence for the relationship between created and man-made worlds.

Born in the Netherlands, Erna immigrated to Canada and now resides in Mount Hope, ON. She received her art education at McMaster, York, and Queens Universities; taught art at the secondary level and in the art education department of two universities.

Erna has exhibited her work in New York City, New Mexico, Montreal, Ontario and The Netherlands, She held a solo show in Richmond Virginia and was a featured artist at McMaster Innovation Park. An article on her painting style and technique was published in the EncausticArts Magazine. Erna was the recipient of the Reserve Best in Show Award at Vaughan City Hall and received a Jurors Award at the John Baird Galley in Toronto. Her work is held in private and corporate collections.