About the Artist

Philadelphia, PA native Erika Richards is a professional illustrator – a skilled artist who works in the mediums of watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite. Erika began creating art at the age of three. 

 A love for the female figure, fairy tales and history has developed into Erika creating fantasy art with a focus on black women of grandeur.

 Erika is a graduate of the Moore College of Art and Design located in Philadelphia, PA with a BFA in Illustration. Her artistic skills have earned her several accolades. She is the recipient of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society Award 2017, 2nd place award for “Best Illustrator” at the 34th Annual Fall for the Arts Festival Chestnut Hill, PA 2018 and 1st place artist award for the 11th Annual Gloucester City Cultural Arts and Heritage Society 2019. Her most recent accolade is the Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists Mural Arts Philadelphia 2020.

How Erika L. Illustrations started

In the summer of 2019, she started her business Erika L. Illustrations LLC. Erika L. LLC prides itself on putting quality artwork first. "If the work is brilliant, everything else will fall into place." Erika L. Illustrations produces pristine art with an emphasis on black women. Erika is supported by her mother CFO Sherida Douglass, and both are working on growing Erika L. and are currently embarking on a new endeavor. Queen Louise art Gallery. Doing their Godly best to change and improve the dynamic between “art gallery” and “artists.”

My artistic focus is black women of grandeur and fantasy. I am reminding the world that black people’s existence surpasses the American History story. We are deeply woven into human existence. The viewer will have an epiphany…seeing the majesty of black people penetrating the world far beyond class, race, and culture.