Meet Erik Ringman | Neon Artist & Physical Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erik Ringman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I always say I was born on the slopes of Mt. Olympus, that is to say on the 1-yard-line into the endzone that is Los Angeles – where millions around the globe either quest to come, or merely dream of doing such. We manufacture and export culture to the world here, I have a keen awareness of the entertainment business’ ruthless and clinical nature that does nothing to taint my wholehearted belief in Hollywood magic. For anything to have its full power, it must embrace its shadow and its light equally & simultaneously, and the Southland is alive with this duality. This unified view, laughing with not at, is fundamental to me and my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My background is in engineering physics, mostly mechanical but also electrical. Architecture is my oldest passion, and followed shortly thereafter by industrial design. The objects we surround ourselves with are the art by which we’re most influenced, so making them good – functionally & stylistically – has significant payoff. I feel the labels designer and artist equally applicable, as in my process their duties are inseparably bonded. I have developed several pieces that use both mechanism and electronics as the medium, not merely a means to an end, and am beginning a series of hi-fi devices and speakers. With the brainpower and manufacturing might we have today, there is no excuse for ugly products in the marketplace.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The view and vibe from Yamashiro’s is pretty unbeatable and a good intro to town. If they’re a movie maven like me there’s a rare, unique, or director-attended film at American Cinematheque every day of the week. For the most part, fun events come to me through friends and connections in the art world – this place is rich with underground events from the intimate to the grand. I have a friend who does live sketch comedy in a black box on Santa Monica Blvd and those shows are some of the hardest I’ve laughed in my life, and the fact you’ll never see it again makes it that much sweeter. We usually walk down the street to The Three Clubs afterward – I love the feel of that place. If you wanted a rundown on bars I could do a whole article just on that, but I’m sure it’s been done before. When I lived in West Hollywood the Viper was my favourite haunt for live music, I’ve seen countless great shows at the Galaxy in Santa Ana too. If they like the lights at night I’d take ’em for a cruise around San Pedro and the port – I spent a lot of time there as a kid and the endless motion of industry is something I find quite beautiful. The most important thing would be introducing them to the folks I run with regularly, so they get a slice of life from the locals. It’s the people that make my life and my city vivacious.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I need to give a shoutout to Location 1980 art collective that truly gave me the leverage to pivot my life. It is a space for me to manufacture artworks, certainly, but it has also been the foundry & forge for the most valuable relationships in my life. The level of self-comfort and ease I have today is inextricably connected to the people I’ve gotten to know through 1980. The totality of it is really indescribable, but I make a damn fine attempt on the Location 1980 Podcast, co-hosted by myself and the owner Jesse Fortune.

Website: http://www.eriktclayton.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/erik.t.clayton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070375174083

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erikt.clayton4398