Esther Pearl Watson’s practice spans painting, collage, drawing, comics, and zines while narrating the melodrama of her distinct American life. Her semi-autobiographical works explore the complexities of growing up economically precarious in rural Texas. Her compositions, speckled with bright, glittering objects, often UFOs, might appear playful but reveal the bleak aspects of her family’s efforts to pursue the American dream. One body of work, her memory paintings, include highly detailed and diaristic vignettes from her childhood that often reference having a father who built space-ships in their backyard. Both humorous and melancholic, Watson’s works cite the history of folk art and draw out a specific pathos inherent in what has traditionally been viewed as an outsider aesthetic.
Esther Pearl Watson was born in 1973 and lives and works in Los Angeles. Her paintings have been exhibited at Maureen Paley Gallery in London (2019) and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, USA (2015), among others.In 2013 she was Artist-in-Residence at Grafikiens Hus, Mariefred, Sweden. Her award-winning comic Unlovable is published in Bust Magazine and with Fantagraphics.
She has published Blood Lady Commandos on Vice online and Welcome to Crapland on Adult Swim online. She has taught at Oxbow Artist Residency, the Lexicon of Sexicana at Columbia College in Chicago, and is currently teaching at ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, California.
![This image depicts an artwork by Esther Pearl Watson titled "The Saucer is Finished and Ready to Test." This artwork was created in 2024 and measures 24" [Diameter] (60.96 cm). Its medium is Acrylic and mixed media on panel.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Esther-Pearl-Watson_EPW534_1715818640.jpg)
Esther Pearl Watson
"The Saucer is Finished and Ready to Test," 2024
"The Saucer is Finished and Ready to Test," 2024
Esther Pearl Watson
“The Saucer is Finished and Ready to Test,” 2024
Acrylic and mixed media on panel
24" [Diameter] (60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW534
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“The Saucer is Finished and Ready to Test,” 2024
Acrylic and mixed media on panel
24" [Diameter] (60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW534
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Esther Pearl Watson titled "The saucer had a flat bottom that wobbled to a stop. It was used to transport people to the interstellar travel ship." This artwork was created in 2024 and measures 18" x 24" [HxW] (45.72 x 60.96 cm). Its medium is Acrylic and mixed media on panel.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Esther-Pearl-Watson_EPW533_1715818790.jpg)
Esther Pearl Watson
"The saucer had a flat bottom that wobbled to a stop. It was used to transport people to the interstellar travel ship," 2024
"The saucer had a flat bottom that wobbled to a stop. It was used to transport people to the interstellar travel ship," 2024
Esther Pearl Watson
“The saucer had a flat bottom that wobbled to a stop. It was used to transport people to the interstellar travel ship,” 2024
Acrylic and mixed media on panel
18" x 24" [HxW] (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW533
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“The saucer had a flat bottom that wobbled to a stop. It was used to transport people to the interstellar travel ship,” 2024
Acrylic and mixed media on panel
18" x 24" [HxW] (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW533
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Esther Pearl Watson titled "Electrons Diverted." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 18" x 24" x 2" [HxWxD] (45.72 x 60.96 x 5.08 cm). Its medium is Acrylic and mixed media on canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Esther-Pearl-Watson_EPW509_1715818654.jpg)
Esther Pearl Watson
"Electrons Diverted," 2023
"Electrons Diverted," 2023
Esther Pearl Watson
“Electrons Diverted,” 2023
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
18" x 24" x 2" [HxWxD] (45.72 x 60.96 x 5.08 cm)
Inventory #EPW509
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox
“Electrons Diverted,” 2023
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
18" x 24" x 2" [HxWxD] (45.72 x 60.96 x 5.08 cm)
Inventory #EPW509
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox
![This image depicts an artwork by Esther Pearl Watson titled "Walking Each Other Home." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 24" x 18" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (60.96 x 45.72 x 3.81 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, graphite, glitter on canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Esther-Pearl-Watson_EPW475_1715818816.jpg)
Esther Pearl Watson
"Walking Each Other Home," 2023
"Walking Each Other Home," 2023
Esther Pearl Watson
“Walking Each Other Home,” 2023
Acrylic, graphite, glitter on canvas
24" x 18" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (60.96 x 45.72 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #EPW475
Signed and dated
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Walking Each Other Home,” 2023
Acrylic, graphite, glitter on canvas
24" x 18" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (60.96 x 45.72 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #EPW475
Signed and dated
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Esther Pearl Watson titled "Sachse, TX 1989." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 9" x 12" x 1" [HxWxD] (22.86 x 30.48 x 2.54 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, graphite, glitter on panel.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Esther-Pearl-Watson_EPW476_1715818675.jpg)
Esther Pearl Watson
"Sachse, TX 1989," 2023
"Sachse, TX 1989," 2023
Esther Pearl Watson
“Sachse, TX 1989,” 2023
Acrylic, graphite, glitter on panel
9" x 12" x 1" [HxWxD] (22.86 x 30.48 x 2.54 cm)
Inventory #EPW476
Signed and dated verso
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Sachse, TX 1989,” 2023
Acrylic, graphite, glitter on panel
9" x 12" x 1" [HxWxD] (22.86 x 30.48 x 2.54 cm)
Inventory #EPW476
Signed and dated verso
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“September 25, RBG,” 2020
“September 25, RBG,” 2020
Esther Pearl Watson
“September 25, RBG,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
12" x 16" [HxW] (30.48 x 40.64 cm)
Inventory #EPW362
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
“September 25, RBG,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
12" x 16" [HxW] (30.48 x 40.64 cm)
Inventory #EPW362
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
Esther Pearl Watson
“October 8, Covid Test, Dodger Stadium,” 2020
“October 8, Covid Test, Dodger Stadium,” 2020
Esther Pearl Watson
“October 8, Covid Test, Dodger Stadium,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
9" x 12" [HxW] (22.86 x 30.48 cm)
Inventory #EPW349
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
“October 8, Covid Test, Dodger Stadium,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
9" x 12" [HxW] (22.86 x 30.48 cm)
Inventory #EPW349
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
Esther Pearl Watson
“November 9, There is a vaccine,” 2020
“November 9, There is a vaccine,” 2020
Esther Pearl Watson
“November 9, There is a vaccine,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
8" x 10" [HxW] (20.32 x 25.4 cm)
Inventory #EPW380
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
“November 9, There is a vaccine,” 2020
Acrylic with pencil on panel
8" x 10" [HxW] (20.32 x 25.4 cm)
Inventory #EPW380
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff Mclane
Esther Pearl Watson
“May All Your Goals You Set,” 2019
“May All Your Goals You Set,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“May All Your Goals You Set,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, glitter, graphite on canvas
40 x 60" [HxW] (101.6 x 152.4 cm)
Inventory #EPW195
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“May All Your Goals You Set,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, glitter, graphite on canvas
40 x 60" [HxW] (101.6 x 152.4 cm)
Inventory #EPW195
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“The Lightning Storm,” 2018
“The Lightning Storm,” 2018
Esther Pearl Watson
“The Lightning Storm,” 2018
Acrylic and glitter on panel
36" x 48" x 5" [HxWxD] (91.44 x 121.92 x 12.7 cm)
Inventory #EPW136
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“The Lightning Storm,” 2018
Acrylic and glitter on panel
36" x 48" x 5" [HxWxD] (91.44 x 121.92 x 12.7 cm)
Inventory #EPW136
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“We Just Found A Kitten,” 2019
“We Just Found A Kitten,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“We Just Found A Kitten,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, graphite on panel
18 x 24" [HxW] (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW199
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“We Just Found A Kitten,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, graphite on panel
18 x 24" [HxW] (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW199
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“Be Nice to Women,” 2019
“Be Nice to Women,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“Be Nice to Women,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, graphite, glitter on canvas
24 x 24" [HxW] (60.96 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW194
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Be Nice to Women,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, graphite, glitter on canvas
24 x 24" [HxW] (60.96 x 60.96 cm)
Inventory #EPW194
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“I Detect a Faint Wisp of Interstellar Dust,” 2019
“I Detect a Faint Wisp of Interstellar Dust,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“I Detect a Faint Wisp of Interstellar Dust,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, glitter, graphite on panel
11 x 14" [HxW] (27.94 x 35.56 cm)
Inventory #EPW198
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“I Detect a Faint Wisp of Interstellar Dust,” 2019
Acrylic, foil, foil paper, glitter, graphite on panel
11 x 14" [HxW] (27.94 x 35.56 cm)
Inventory #EPW198
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
Esther Pearl Watson
“Dream Achiever,” 2019
“Dream Achiever,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“Dream Achiever,” 2019
Acrylic on wood
35 x 59" [HxW] (88.9 x 149.86 cm)
Inventory #EPW163
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Robert Wedemeyer
“Dream Achiever,” 2019
Acrylic on wood
35 x 59" [HxW] (88.9 x 149.86 cm)
Inventory #EPW163
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Robert Wedemeyer
Esther Pearl Watson
“Dream Believer,” 2019
“Dream Believer,” 2019
Esther Pearl Watson
“Dream Believer,” 2019
Acrylic on wood
35 x 59" [HxW] (88.9 x 149.86 cm)
Inventory #EPW162
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Dream Believer,” 2019
Acrylic on wood
35 x 59" [HxW] (88.9 x 149.86 cm)
Inventory #EPW162
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
- 1973
- Born in Frankfurt, Germany
- Lives and works in Los Angeles
- 2012
- MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
- 1995
- BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Selected Exhibitions
- 2025
- "Group Show," Galerie Judin, Berlin, Germany (forthcoming)
- 2024
- "Generating Auras," Andrew Edlin Gallery, New York, NY
- "Reading Room: Zines, Comix, and Other Radical Texts," The Wignall Museum, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- 2023
- "At Heaven's Edge: Visions" Museum Krona, Uden, Netherlands
- "Starship Pegasus," Antonio Colombo Gallery, Milan, Italy
- "Sightings," Sun Valley Museum of Art, Ketchum, ID
- "Space Gas," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- "Rituals of Devotion," McEvoy Family Collection, San Francisco, CA
- "Perpetual Portrait," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- "A Very Luminous Vision," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- 2022
- "Guardian of Eden," Andrew Edlin Gallery, New York, NY
- "Plants Now!" Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- "An Apparent Brightness," Maureen Paley: Morena di Luna, Hove, UK
- 2021
- "Esther Pearl Watson," The Richmond Center for Visual Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
- "Esther Pearl Watson," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles. CA (Link)
- "Dust it Off," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- 2020
- "Safer at Home: Pandemic Paintings," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- "20 Years," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- 2019-2020
- "Dream Believer," University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Parkside, WI
- 2019
- "Rural Elements," Contemporary Art Museum of Plainview, Plainview, TX
- "Esther Pearl Watson," Maureen Paley, London, UK
- "April 14, 1561," Andrew Edlin Gallery, New York, NY
- "The Moon: Eternal Pearl," Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Concord, MA
- 2018
- "Tire Universe," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
- W+K Gallery, Portland, OR
- 2017
- “Starship Pegasus,” Antonio Columbo Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
- Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX (solo)
- "Now More Than Ever," LACE Benefit Art Auction, Los Angeles, CA
- "For the Good Times," Sp(a)ce, Pasadena, CA
- 2016
- "The 11th Annual Blab Show," Curated by Monte Beauchamp, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- "The Furies," Visitor Welcome Center, Los Angeles, CA
- "Cocoon," Arts Factory, Paris, France
- "Galactic Plains," Gregorio Escalante Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (solo)
- "Hearsay," Artists Reveal Urban Legends, LosJoCos Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- 2015
- "Atrium," Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX
- "New Works," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- The Future Arrives, Galleri Galleberg, Norway, (solo)
- Two-Person Exhibition, Family Lexicon, Antonio Colombo Gallery, Milan, Italy (with artist Fred Stonehouse) (catalogue)
- 2014
- "Sky," Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA, (curated by DeWitt Cheng and Elizabeth Ferrer)
- "Amazon Solitaire," Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, Eagle Rock, CA
- "Explorers," CSC Gallery, McLennan Community College, Waco, TX
- "Hexenhaus," 495 Alameda St, Altadena, CA
- "With Open Eyes," Grafikens Hus, Mariefried, Sweden (with artist Mark Todd)
- "It’s Not a Circus Without a Big Top," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- 2013
- Summer Viewing Rooms, Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA
- 2012
- "Hidden Behind the Stars," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX, (solo)
- Permanent Collection, Nancy Margolis Gallery, NY
- Cal/Arts MFA Graduate Exhibition, LA Mart, Los Angeles, CA (curated by Catherine Taft)
- Fort Beavatron, CalArts Mint Gallery, Valencia, CA, (solo)
- 2011
- CalArts Main Gallery, Valencia, CA, (solo)
- "Incognito," Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA
- "Land Of Magic," Lesher Center for the Arts, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
- "Women in Comics," (Curated) Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- 2010
- "New Works," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX, (solo)
- 2009
- "Visions of the Future," Billy Shire Fine Art, Culver City, CA (with artist Owen Smith)
- "Texas Instruments," Domy, Austin, TX, (solo)
- "When in Texas act like a Texan," Webb Gallery, Waxahachie, TX
- 2008
- "3rd Annual LA Weekly Biennial," Track 16, Los Angeles, CA (curated by Doug Harvey)
- "Failure," The Lab at Belmar, Lakewood, CO
- "Blab Show!," Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University, Kansas City, MO (curated by Monte Beauchamp)
- "LA Paint," Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA (curated by Phil Linares)
- 2007
- "The Weirding Field," La Luz De Jesus, Los Angeles, CA, (solo)
- 2006
- "What I Remember," Mendenhall Sobieski Gallery, Pasadena, CA (solo)
- 2005
- "Keep On Laughing," Katherine Mulherin Contemporary, Toronto, Canada
Bibliography
- 2023
- Williams, Gisela. "An Exhibition of U.F.O. Art Lands in Idaho," New York Times Style Magazine, September 14 (Link)
- 2022
- Artnet Gallery Network. "5 Talents From the Artnet Gallery Network We’re Keeping an Eye on as the Fall Season Kicks Off," Artnet, September 14 (Link)
- 2021
- Rylah, Juliet Bennet. "Esther Pearl Watson and Pandemic Paintings," The Pool, May 14 (Link)
- "Friday at Frieze New York," Frieze, May 7 (Link)
- McArthur, Roshan. "Pandemic Paintings by Esther Pearl Watson," Boutique Homes, January 22
- Zellen, Jody. "Esther Pearl Watson: ‘Safer at Home: Pandemic Paintings’ Documenting the Everyday," ArtNow LA, January
- Recinos, Eva. "Esther Pearl Watson Channels Strange Pandemic Life in 100 Paintings," Hyperallergic, January 12
- 2020
- Dambrot, Shana Nys "Esther Pearl Watson Paints the Pandemic's Daily Strangeness," LA Weekly, December 10 (Link)
- Watson, Esther Pearl. "An Artist Captures 4 Months of Sidewalk Chalk Drawings," The New York Times, July 19 (Link)
- 2019
- Drambot, Shana Nys. "ART PICK: THE POST-IT SHOW," LA Weekly, December 6 (Link)
- "Esther Pearl Watson, Mothership, 2019," Elephant, September 4 (Link)
- "Esther Pearl Watson: Mothership," Time Out London, September 18 (Link)
- Biswas, Allie. "Esther Pearl Watson – interview: ‘I really search out moments of awkward humour’" Studio International, September 16 (Link)
- Dawson, Aimee and Ellie Lace, Kabir Jhala. "Three exhibitions to see in London this weekend," Art Newspaper, September 6 (Link)
- Brady, Anna and Margaret Carrigan. "Private view: must-see gallery shows opening in September," Art Newspaper, September 4 (Link)
- Zara, Janelle. "‘Everything Feels More Intimate’: Felix LA Brings New Life to Art-Fair Circuit," ArtNews, February 15 (Link)
- Freeman, Nate. "The Future of Art Fairs Is in a Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard," February 15 (Link)
- Remenchik, Jennifer. "Placing Art in Hotel Rooms Can Yield Genuinely Surprising Results," Hyperallergic, February 16 (Link)
- Smith, Roberta. "What to See in New York Art Galleries This Week," New York Times, January 8 (Link)
- Womack, Catherine. "The assignment: Design a poster that dispels America's myths about immigrants," Los Angeles Times, December 24 (Link)
- 2018
- Remenchik, Jennifer, "A Painter Illustrates the Charm and Tragedy of the American Dream," Hyperallergic (web), July 9
- 2014
- Lemke, Meg, "Dear Diary: An Interview with Esther Pearl Watson," The Paris Review (web), June 20 (Link)
- Simek, Peter, "This Week’s 5 Best Art Gallery Openings and Events," D Magazine (web), May 28 (Link)
- 2012
- Laughlin, Jamie, "Puppets And Spaceships Invade Waxahachie," Dallas Observer (web), November 15 (Link)
- Morgan, Kendall, "Wacky and whimsical works from Miss Pussycat and Esther Pearl Watson invade Webb Gallery," Culture Map Dalllas (web), November 16 (Link)
- Farr, Kristin, "Esther Pearl Watson," Juxtapoz, February
- 2011
- Hudgens, Christopher, "Episode 323: Esther Pearl Watson," Badatsports (web), November 7 (Link)
- 2010
- Farr, Kristin, "Big Dreams: Esther Pearl Watson at Sandra Lee Gallery," KQED Arts (web), June 11 (Link)
- Enholm, Molly, "Esther Pearl Watson," art ltd. (web), July 10 (Link)
- O'Toole, Meighan, "Esther Pearl Watson: Space is the Place," My Love For You (web), February 18 (Link)
- 2009
- Weeks, Jerome, "Flying Saucers, Teen Angst and Esther Pearl Watson," Art and Seek (web), August 11 (Link)
- Schroeder, Audra, "Building Spaceships in the Yard, Austin Chronicle (web), June 12 (Link)
- Hamada, Jeff, "Esther Pearl Watson," Booooooom (web), February 27 (Link)
- 2007
- Gray, Emma, "L.A Confidential," Artnet (web), January (Link)
Curatorial Projects
- 2019
- "Post-It Show," Giant Robot/GR2 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Public and Private Collections
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, CA