"Scripted Spaces" eri king

The kaleidoscopic world of Las Vegas casinos has long been an emblem of controlled chaos—a place where design, psychology, and commerce collide in mesmerizing fashion. In her latest solo exhibition, Scripted Spaces, multidisciplinary artist eri king brings this complex world into focus, presenting a series of new paintings that reimagine the intricate visual and psychological landscapes of casino interiors. This exhibition offered a profound exploration of how patterns, layouts, and design strategies manipulate perception and evoke desire.

Eri King’s Scripted Spaces draws inspiration from the often-overlooked patterns of casino carpets and the maze-like spaces they inhabit. Far from mere decorative elements, these carpets are rich with symbolism and psychological intent. Through intricate compositions and dynamic forms, King’s paintings reveal the hidden narratives within these engineered designs, exploring how casinos use visual strategies to both captivate and disorient.

By examining these spaces as "scripted," King invites viewers to reflect on the layers of psychological manipulation embedded in their design—crafted to obscure certain elements while simultaneously drawing attention to others. Her work illuminates the subtle interplay between perception and control, raising questions about the environments we move through and how they shape our desires and actions.

A Las Vegas native currently based in Brooklyn, NY, Eri King’s artistic practice is rooted in examining the intersections of culture, capitalism, and the everyday. Her work spans painting, installation, textiles, video, and performance, consistently delving into the rituals and contradictions that define contemporary life.

King’s exploration of Las Vegas casinos in Scripted Spaces is deeply personal, reflecting her upbringing in a city that epitomizes the artificial allure of American capitalism. She brings a meticulous, analog approach to her art, transforming overlooked materials and moments into thought-provoking creations. Her work challenges viewers to reconsider the binaries of natural versus artificial, handmade versus mass-produced, and desire versus repulsion.

King holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and Art History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an MFA in Painting from Hunter College in New York City. Over her career, she has exhibited widely, including solo shows at Miranda Kuo Gallery (NYC), Winchester Cultural Center Gallery (Las Vegas), and Catskills Gallery (NYC), as well as participating in renowned group exhibitions like Spring/Break Art Show NYC and the Every Woman Biennial. Her work is part of the permanent collection at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art in Las Vegas.

Through Scripted Spaces, Eri King unveils the subtle power of design in shaping human behavior. Her paintings capture the essence of casino environments, transforming them from spaces of consumption into sites of reflection. They challenge us to see beyond the surface, revealing how every detail—no matter how small—is crafted with purpose.

Visitors to ASAP experienced firsthand the tension between allure and manipulation that defines these environments, while gaining insight into King’s larger artistic project of elevating the mundane into the meaningful.