BIOGRAPHY:

Eric Harley Schweitzer (b. 1974, Halifax, Nova Scotia) grew up exploring the forests and hills of Fairfield County, Connecticut—an early immersion in nature that continues to inform the mood and movement of his work. Music and art shaped his childhood; he studied bass guitar, clarinet, piano, and trumpet before discovering a talent for drawing in his early teens. Open figure‑drawing sessions became his first structured artistic training.

Although largely self‑taught, Schweitzer has studied at the Montgomery College School of Art & Design (Silver Spring, MD), Glen Echo Park (Glen Echo, MD), the Wooster Community Art Center (Danbury, CT), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has also worked as an invited guest artist and assistant sculptor for several notable regional artists.

Before pursuing art full‑time, Schweitzer served in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician, troubleshooting and repairing complex “black box” systems. He later earned a B.A. in Communication Research from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Schweitzer identifies as an automatist artist, working in a loose, abstract, gestural manner and typically beginning without preconception. His wide‑ranging media practice reflects both the spontaneity of NYC street graffiti—an early influence—and the contemplative quiet of his New England upbringing. 

His work has appeared in numerous juried group exhibitions and solo shows, has traveled in national touring exhibitions, and is held in private collections across the United States and abroad.

I paint to capture the emotional truth of a moment, allowing instinct and gesture to guide the image as it emerges. Through composition, spontaneity, and continual revision, I work to reveal moods and ideas that evolve with the viewer.

Creating art is, for me, a spiritual act—one that brings me closest to a higher power. My goal is to share that sense of connection, offering works that feel immediate, dynamic, and alive. I approach each piece the way I approach each day: as a clean slate, open to discovery, driven by an underlying altruistic purpose.

"Charles Krause/ The Newtown Project: A Call To Arms!," Brenda Hayes, This Light Sounds For Social Change Radio CPR, 3/2013, Time Stamp: 0:38:38 podcast
 

"Eric Harley Schweitzer: Artist profile,” Stephen Mack, Examiner, 8/15/2011

“Working With The Abstract: Chevy Chase Artist Lets Colors Do The Talking, Jordan Edwards, Gazette, 12/27/2010 

“Appetite for Abstraction at the Good News Café,” Ryan Wiltzius, The Town Vibe, 6/11/2013  
“Artists contribute to 'Newtown Project: A Call to Arms!'," Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post, 1/25/2013

Image: “The Sorcerer,” Events in Connecticut, The New York Times, 8/18/2012

Image: “The Sorcerer,” Calendar of Events, The Housatonic Times, 8/11/2012

“Eric Harley Schweitzer: Paintings & Works On Paper," Waverly Street Gallery, 1/04/2011

“Former Naval Technician Turns to Art,” Kate Oczypok, Bethesda Patch, 1/26/2011

“Eric Harley Schweitzer: Paintings & Works On Paper,” Natalie Neumann, Chevy Chase Patch, 1/21/2011

“Art in Unexpected Places,” Jeremy B. White, Roll Call, 3/1/2010  

“Working With The Abstract: Chevy Chase Artist Lets Colors Do The Talking," Jordan Edwards, Gazette, 12/27/2010

"Eric Harley Schweitzer: Working Process," A Walk Into Abstracts, Vol.4, Sue St. John, 4/2012 

Cover Art for "Tap Dancing Through Black Holes," Robert Whitehill-Bashan, 4/2014