Erik Ritter

Instructor

Email 605-688-4103

Biography

Erik Ritter has been an artist and educator for over 30 years. He earned his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and has showcased his work in prominent exhibitions, including CONTEXT Art Miami, SCOPE International Art Show in New York, the Diego Rivera Gallery in San Francisco and SculptureWalk Sioux Falls in 2026. His assemblage piece "Bird of Time" was recently featured in the South Dakota Art Museum's exhibition "Succession: Artists and Their Students," highlighting the impact of mentorship in the art community.

Currently, he serves as a full-time instructor at the School of Design at �ձ�av��Ƶ, where he continues to inspire the next generation of artists.

Education

Graduate coursework in writing | Capella University, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2014
MFA in painting | San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California | 1994
Graduate coursework in studio arts | The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1992
B.A. in general arts | �ձ�av��Ƶ, Brookings, South Dakota | 1991
Undergraduate coursework in art history | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 1991

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research

2017 Subject Matter Expert and Instructor, Art in the World and Workplace

Rasmussen Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois

Provided original content as the course development consultant for a self-paced online course including interactive game activities and tutorials.

2012 Subject Matter Expert, Digital Video

Rasmussen Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois

Provided original and engaging content as the course development consultant for N435 Final Digital Video Project. The 11-week online course includes lectures, discussions and project assignments.

2011 Subject Matter Expert, Digital Experimental Art

Rasmussen Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois

Provided original content as the course development consultant for N405 Advanced Applications of Digital and Experimental Art.

2010 Subject Matter Expert, Storyboarding for Digital Media

Rasmussen Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois

Provided original and engaging content as the course development consultant for N425 Storyboard Development for Digital Media course. Contributed original animation. The 11-week online course includes lectures, discussions and project assignments.

Awards and Honors

2025 Juror's Award

50th Annual Fine Art Exhibition, Brookings Arts Council, Brookings, South Dakota

2023 Best Sculpture

Midwest Nice Juried Exhibition, Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota

2004 Van Zante Alumni Program

�ձ�av��Ƶ, Brookings, South Dakota

2003 Minnesota Twins Scoreboard Animation Finalist

Hi-Wire Video Production, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1994 Juror’s Award

St. Francis Festival of the Arts, San Francisco, California

1992 Juror’s Award

University of North Dakota Witmer Juried Art Competition, Witmer Art Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota

1992 Top 5 of Show

Summer Arts XVI Juried Exhibition, Warren M. Lee Center, Vermillion, South Dakota

Grants

2024 Creative Aging for Teaching Artists Grant

Designed and facilitated sequential painting classes for senior citizens. South Dakota Arts Council. $5,000 award

2020 Residency for Recovery Artist Grant

Designed and facilitated painting classes for senior citizens with funding from the South Dakota Arts Council Residency for Recovery Program, including the commission of artwork for the permanent collection at the Brookings City and County Government Center. $7,000 award

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