River, No. Two – Original Abstract Acrylic Diptych on Canvas by Erin McGrath Rieke
About this Artwork
River, No. Two is a two-part abstract acrylic diptych on canvas created by Erin McGrath Rieke in 2019 as part of the River Series. The work was commissioned as a birthday gift for the artist’s close friend and gender-violence-awareness partner, Rachel Ebeling, in celebration of her 50th birthday.
The painting began as a live performance piece during Rachel’s birthday celebration, where the artist created the initial gestures and forms in real time among friends, family, and community members gathered to honor her. The early marks were shaped by the energy of the room. Layers of color and movement emerged amid laughter, shared memories, and the collective spirit of the moment.
Following the celebration, the work was completed in the studio. Additional layers and refinements transformed the spontaneous performance into a finished diptych that reflects both the immediacy of that evening and the deeper reflection that followed.
Within the River Series, the composition suggests movement, passage, and continuity. The two canvases operate together as a visual current, where gestural passages of acrylic paint move across the surfaces like shifting water. The layered textures and fluid transitions evoke both emotional depth and resilience.
For the artist, the work stands as a tribute to Rachel’s strength, compassion, and unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of gender-based violence. The painting holds the shared mission that has connected them through advocacy and community work. It is both a celebration of a life milestone and a reflection of the purpose that continues to guide their work together.
Though now part of a private collection, River, No. Two remains a meaningful piece within the River Series, embodying the themes of movement, connection, and the enduring influence of those who inspire us.
Artwork Details
Artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
Title: River, No. Two
Year Created: 2019
Series: River Series
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Artwork Size: 18 W x 24 H x 2 D in (each canvas)
Format: Diptych (two-panel painting)
Style: Abstract / Contemporary Abstract
Subject: Movement, resilience, tribute
Original Artwork: One-of-a-kind
Frame: Optional
Additional Information
Erin McGrath Rieke’s River Series explores themes of flow, transformation, and emotional continuity through expressive acrylic abstraction. In River, No. Two, the diptych format reinforces the sense of movement and dialogue between surfaces, reflecting the interconnected nature of memory, celebration, and purpose.
The work also captures a rare moment in the artist’s practice where live performance painting intersects with studio completion, preserving both the immediacy of communal experience and the reflective depth of the finished work.
Collecting Original Artwork
Original acrylic paintings by Erin McGrath Rieke combine expressive abstraction, narrative depth, and layered emotional themes. River, No. Two represents a distinctive example of the artist’s live performance process and her ability to translate personal relationships and shared advocacy into powerful visual form.
River, No. Two – Original Abstract Acrylic Diptych on Canvas by Erin McGrath Rieke
About this Artwork
River, No. Two is a two-part abstract acrylic diptych on canvas created by Erin McGrath Rieke in 2019 as part of the River Series. The work was commissioned as a birthday gift for the artist’s close friend and gender-violence-awareness partner, Rachel Ebeling, in celebration of her 50th birthday.
The painting began as a live performance piece during Rachel’s birthday celebration, where the artist created the initial gestures and forms in real time among friends, family, and community members gathered to honor her. The early marks were shaped by the energy of the room. Layers of color and movement emerged amid laughter, shared memories, and the collective spirit of the moment.
Following the celebration, the work was completed in the studio. Additional layers and refinements transformed the spontaneous performance into a finished diptych that reflects both the immediacy of that evening and the deeper reflection that followed.
Within the River Series, the composition suggests movement, passage, and continuity. The two canvases operate together as a visual current, where gestural passages of acrylic paint move across the surfaces like shifting water. The layered textures and fluid transitions evoke both emotional depth and resilience.
For the artist, the work stands as a tribute to Rachel’s strength, compassion, and unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of gender-based violence. The painting holds the shared mission that has connected them through advocacy and community work. It is both a celebration of a life milestone and a reflection of the purpose that continues to guide their work together.
Though now part of a private collection, River, No. Two remains a meaningful piece within the River Series, embodying the themes of movement, connection, and the enduring influence of those who inspire us.
Artwork Details
Artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
Title: River, No. Two
Year Created: 2019
Series: River Series
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Artwork Size: 18 W x 24 H x 2 D in (each canvas)
Format: Diptych (two-panel painting)
Style: Abstract / Contemporary Abstract
Subject: Movement, resilience, tribute
Original Artwork: One-of-a-kind
Frame: Optional
Additional Information
Erin McGrath Rieke’s River Series explores themes of flow, transformation, and emotional continuity through expressive acrylic abstraction. In River, No. Two, the diptych format reinforces the sense of movement and dialogue between surfaces, reflecting the interconnected nature of memory, celebration, and purpose.
The work also captures a rare moment in the artist’s practice where live performance painting intersects with studio completion, preserving both the immediacy of communal experience and the reflective depth of the finished work.
Collecting Original Artwork
Original acrylic paintings by Erin McGrath Rieke combine expressive abstraction, narrative depth, and layered emotional themes. River, No. Two represents a distinctive example of the artist’s live performance process and her ability to translate personal relationships and shared advocacy into powerful visual form.
