Sisterhood

Sisterhood – Original Abstract Mixed Media Painting on Canvas by Erin McGrath Rieke

About this Artwork

About this Artwork

I created Sisterhood in 2023 as a 20 x 20-inch mixed media painting on canvas. Built through layers of acrylic paint, vintage novel pages, and fragments of musical scores, this piece explores identity, connection, and the stories we inherit from one another.

As I worked, I became interested in the shared experiences that shape our understanding of womanhood, motherhood, and sisterhood. Text and music move beneath the painted surface, suggesting the cultural narratives and personal histories that influence how we see ourselves and our relationships.

The layering process mirrors the complexity of those connections. Some elements are visible, while others remain partially hidden, much like the experiences, expectations, and memories we carry throughout our lives. Through the interaction of text, texture, and color, I wanted to create space for reflection on belonging, resilience, and the ties that both support and challenge us.

Artwork Details

Artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
Title: Sisterhood
Year Created: 2023
Medium: Mixed media on canvas (acrylic paint, vintage novel pages, musical scores)
Size: 20 W x 20 H x 1.5 D in
Style: Contemporary Mixed Media / Abstract
Subject: Identity, connection, womanhood, resilience
Original Artwork: One-of-a-kind
Frame: Optional

Additional Information

In Sisterhood, layers of text, music, and paint come together to create a conversation between personal memory and collective experience. The textured surface reveals fragments of stories beneath the composition, inviting viewers to slow down and discover details embedded within the work.

This piece reflects my ongoing interest in how relationships shape us, how inherited narratives influence our choices, and how we continually redefine ourselves within the communities we belong to.

Collecting Original Artwork

Sisterhood is a one-of-a-kind mixed media painting that combines acrylic paint, vintage literature, and musical notation into a richly layered composition. The work explores connection, identity, and the evolving stories that bind us together.

Artwork Details

Artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
Title: Sisterhood
Year Created: 2023
Medium: Mixed media on canvas (acrylic, vintage novel pages, vintage musical scores, adhesive)
Artwork Size: 20 W x 20 H x 2 D in
Style: Abstract / Contemporary Abstract
Subject: Identity, kinship, resilience
Series: N/A
Original Artwork: One-of-a-kind
Frame: Optional

Additional Information

Erin McGrath Rieke’s mixed media practice often integrates found materials and layered textures to explore themes of memory, identity, and social narrative. In Sisterhood, the use of vintage literature and musical notation introduces historical and cultural context, embedding fragments of past voices within the painting’s contemporary abstract structure.

The 20 x 20 square format provides a balanced composition that allows the layered materials to interact across the canvas without hierarchy. Subtle glimpses of text and notation appear through the acrylic surface, creating moments of discovery that reveal themselves gradually as the viewer spends time with the piece.

The 2-inch gallery-depth canvas enhances the sculptural quality of the layered materials, allowing the work to stand confidently on its own or integrate into a curated collection of contemporary abstract and mixed media artworks.

Collecting Original Artwork

Original mixed media paintings by Erin McGrath Rieke combine expressive abstraction with layered conceptual meaning. Sisterhood is a one-of-a-kind artwork that reflects the artist’s exploration of identity, shared narratives, and the evolving definitions of connection and solidarity.