​USA b.1973 Oshkosh, WI

Lives and Works in both Los Angeles and Dubuque, IA

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Erin Eitter Kono is a painter based in both Los Angeles, CA, and Dubuque, IA. Descended from frontier settlers and raised in Iowa’s Driftless Region, Kono uses the ancient technique of egg tempera to investigate how memory, land, and culture intersect. Her work explores the layered histories of American mythology, particularly the cultural legacies of Manifest Destiny and westward expansion. Working with materials such as silverpoint and natural pigments sourced from historically significant sites, Kono’s paintings invite viewers to look beneath familiar narratives and consider the quieter truths embedded in place.

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Kono studied art history at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) and the University of Hull (Kingston Upon Hull, England). She learned traditional egg tempera techniques under the guidance of artist Koo Schadler. Kono’s work has been exhibited internationally and in notable venues, including Bergdorf Goodman (NYC) and Future Fair (NYC) and the Riverside Art Museusm (CA) Solo exhibits at the Dubuque Museum of Art (Dubuque, IA), La Luz de Jesus (Los Angeles, CA), and Gallery 825 (Los Angeles) and an upcoming exhibit at Troutbeck (Amenia, NY) Numerous group exhibits including at FORMah (NYC) Modern Eden (San Francisco, CA), Beinart Gallery, (Melbourne Australia).  Her paintings have been seen in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, American Art Collector, Arts to Hearts Magazine, and Juxtapoz magazine. Additionally, she is an award-winning author and illustrator with over a dozen books published by major trade houses. Her book illustrations are in the collection of the Mazza Museum (Findley, OH)​

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