Erik Sandgren regularly exhibits prints and paintings throughout the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. His paintings in many media involve both plein aire and studio compositions based on the fundamental themes and imagery of water, earth, sky, and figures in the landscape. His paintings embody a personal poetry of space and time unified by closely observed light and color. His work has developed over the years in response to a wide range of influences including the Northwest Painters, European painting of the Renaissance through early 20th century and classical Asian art. It systematically explores painterly traditions and at the same time refers to experience beyond painting: experience of the world itself.

Erik Sandgren is tenured art faculty at Grays Harbor College.