Erik Šille was born in 1978 in Rožňava, Czechoslovakia. He Lives and works in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Šille is one of the most significant protagonists of Slovak painting. His creation has been rapidly profiled as early as during the first years of his studies (VŠVU, Bratislava), when he ranged himself among the first “stars“ of the painting revival connected mainly with the appearance of the IV. atelier led by Ivan Csudai.
Šille´s painting consistently and systematically represents his own artistic voice with initial stimulation in visual particularities of pop-culture, comics and street-art. Dominant recognitory feature of his creative language is a strong influence by the digital image processing which is so precise that it even reminds us of the graphic design. Yet he never falls out of his free painting creativity. In spite of the impression of the “clarified“ surfaces, a gesture is extremely important for him, frequently it even makes the essential moment of his final expression.
Credit: The art theoretician Diana Majdáková
This quotation introduced the work of Erik Šille in the catalogue Painting after Painting (Slovak National Gallery, 2010) and in many ways rendered the work of undoubtedly the most successful
painter of his generation. He raised attention already during his studies at the studio of Professor Ivan Csudai, when a strong “acrylic generation” of painters emerged. Although Šille belongs to its prominent representatives, he continually cultivates, develops and enriches his highly distinctive style with new elements and characters. Possibly the most characteristic feature of Šille’s work is his sophisticated symbolism that utilizes the form, charm, and ambiguity of the animated world and comic characters.
Credit: Alexandra Kusá (General Director of Slovak National Gallery)
EDUCATION
2006‐2010 Academy of Fine Arts Bratislava, Department of Painting, assistant
2000‐2006 Academy of Fine Arts Bratislava (studio prof. Ivan Csudai)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2022 We only recycle, Gallery Sumec, Bratislava, SK
2022 I wasn’t here…, Schemnitz Gallery, Banská Štiavnica, SK
2021 Troubled region and strange dream, Ján Koniarik Gallery, Trnava, Sk
2021 MINI art car by Erik Sille, Danubianna, Čuňovo, SK
2020 in medias res, white and weiss gallery, Bratislava, Sk
2020 where the long pink shadows fall, youkobo art space, Tokio, JP 2018 Black melon, krokus Gallery, Bratislava, Sk
2018 Youkobo art space, Tokio , Tokyo, Japonsko
2017 Vitra Collector’s Lounge, DSC Gallery, Praha, CZ
2017 Error, Kunsthalle, Bratislava, SK
2016 Erik Šille, ODD Gallery, Badung, Bali, Indonesia
2016 NATURE 2.0 (with Heike Schäffer), Kro Art Contemporary, Wien, AT
2015 Sleeping water, Plusminusnula Galéria, Žilina, SK
2013 Made in Japan, Krokus Bratislava, SK
2013 The Adventures of Junshi and Stillborn, Youkobo art space, Tokyo, JP
2012 Welcome in our city, Central Slovak Gallery, Banská Bystrica, SK
2012 From time to time, from shore to shore, Industrial Gallery Ostrava, CZ
2011 Noir Wellness, Krokus Galéria, SK
2010 Erik Šille, Wannieck Gallery Brno, CZ
2010 Erik Šille, Iná krajina / Another country , Galérie Sýpka, Valašské Meziříčí, CZ
2009 e.s. wird hell, Krokus Galéria Bratislava, SK
2009 Work and play ( s/ with D. Baffi), Galéria umenia Nové Zámky, SK
2008 Erik Šille. Obrazy nového sveta / New world pictures , Galéria SLSP, Bratislava, SK 2008 Paintings feels better than we do, Galérie Blansko, CZ
2008 Horor Vacui (s/ with M. Czinege), Slovenský inštitút Rím / Slovak Institute Rom, IT 2008 a. balanced, Múzeum Vojtecha Löfflera, Košice, SK
2007 Birds resonance, Bastart Contemporary Bratislava, SK
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2022 A black hole, Kastle Betliar, Rožňava, SK
2022 EXPEDITION10, Slovak Institute in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
2021 A black hole, Kasárne/Kulturpark, Košice, SK
2021 Unlock, Gallery Schemnitz, Banská Štiavnica, SK
2020 PLUSY A MÍNUSY AKVIZIČNEJ ČINNOSTI Rezervované pre budúcnosť II. Oravská
galéria,Dolný Kubín, SK
2019 City mejkap, Galerie u bílého jednorožce, Klatovy, CZ
2018 CRITICON, Kritická maľba dnes, Múzeum Vojtecha Lofflera, Košice, SK
2018 SNP (Slovenské národní povstání), Galerie Arcimboldo, Praha, CZ
2018 Breezing with the painting, freezing with the sculpture, (GUS) – kultúrne zariadenie ,
Spišská Nová Ves, SK
2018 BAKELIT, Miscolc Herman Otto Múzeum – Miscolci galeria, Miscolc , HU
2017 Failings Before Final, Dot Gallery, Bratislava, SK
2017 Winter seletion 6, Flatgallery, Bratislava, SK
2016 10 years of painting, Gallerie d’Italia, Milano, IT
2016 10 years of painting, Bratislava castle, Bratislava, SK
2016 Summer exhibition 2016, Krokus Bratislava, SK
2016 JUNE SELECTION ’16, Gallery Schemnitz, Banská Štiavnica, SK
2004 Dávid Baffi-Erik Šille SNM- Múzeum kultúry maďarov na Slovensku, Bratislava
AWARDS
2018 Tatra banka Art Award – laureate of Main Prize category of Tatra Banka Foundation Award for art
2010 Tatra banka Art Award – Young artist laureate of Tatra Banka Foundation Award for art
2010 Strabag Art Award / Slovak nominee
2009 VÚB Painting Award ‐ winner
2006 VÚB Painting Award ‐ 3rd
2006 IV. Zlín Youth Salon – winner
RESIDENCES
2020 Záhrada (Garden), Cultural center, Banská Bystrica, Sk
2020 Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, JAP
2018 Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, JAP
2016 Slowpunch, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
2015 Tannery Arts Center, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
2013 Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, JAP
2012 6×9=2012, Banská St a nica Contemporary, SK
COLLECTIONS
Slovak National Gallery Bratislava, SK
Bratislava City Gallery, Bratislava, SK
Nitra Gallery, SK,
State Gallery Dolný Kubín, SK,
Foundation VÚB Bank, SK,
Wannieck Gallery Brno, CZ,
Marek Collection, CZ,
EP Collection, Brussel, BEL
Gallery of Miloš Alexander Bazovsky, Trenčín, SK
Slovak and foreign private collections