Erosion

Erosion explores the intersection of politics, ecology, and the fragility of the human condition through abstract, gestural works that blur the line between atmospheric and political realities. Using simple materials—ink, paper, watercolor, gouache, and fragments of newspapers—the artist creates layered, visceral images that echo both the turbulence of the natural world and the chaos of contemporary social discourse. Petrides captures the dissonance of contemporary news cycles and the distortion of meaning in a time of political upheaval. “The barrage of news media and disinformation is desensitizing,” the artist reflects. “I am trying to undermine this numbing effect.” With roots in environmental observation and a commitment to unfiltered expression, Erosion presents a body of work that is at once immersive, unsettling, and urgent. The exhibition invites viewers to confront the ecological and political fractures of our time while imagining new possibilities for resilience and repair. This exhibit is supported by an Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in Visual Arts, 2024.