Erica Mahinay, a 40-year-old California-born artist based in Los Angeles, is the subject of a solo exhibition titled "Rhythms" at T293 gallery in Rome. The show presents 24 intimate-scale works that explore the artist's physical, process-driven approach to abstract painting, where she manipulates pigment through pouring, dripping, and erasing to create layered, luminous surfaces. Mahinay, who holds degrees from the Kansas City Art Institute and Cranbrook Academy of Art, has work in the Marciano Art Foundation and Pinault Collection, and was included in the Hammer Museum's 2023 biennial "Made in L.A.: Acts of Living."
The exhibition matters because it foregrounds a contemplative, slow-making practice in an art world often driven by speed and spectacle. Mahinay's emphasis on tactility, bodily intelligence, and the temporal dimension of painting—inspired by composers like Olivier Messiaen and anthropologist Kathleen Stewart—offers a counterpoint to digital and conceptual trends. The show also highlights T293's continued role in presenting international contemporary artists in Rome, and underscores the growing recognition of Mahinay's work within major collections and institutions.