Artist Biography

Erik Matthew Olson (US American, 1972) is a multi-disciplinary artist working primarily in the media of photography, video, printmaking, and textiles. There are hundreds of people named Erik Olson in North America, and several are established in the fine art space. To differentiate himself, this Erik Olson also uses the business name Thirteen Owls (13 Owls). Since 2021, in addition to his creative practice, Olson works full-time in the field of landscape design-construction.

Olson graduated with an MFA (1997) from Edinburgh College of Art in Edinburgh, Scotland where he studied with Elizabeth Ogilvie and Victoria Crowe. He earned his BA in Visual Arts (1994) from Marlboro College in Marlboro, Vermont where he studied with John Willis, Marrin Robinson, and Deanne Sokolin. From 2001–2005, Olson taught photography and art history courses as an adjunct faculty member in the Continuing Education program at Southern New Hampshire University.

Olson’s work has been exhibited in Germany, Scotland, and the United States.