Erin O’Malley is a painter who, using colour, texture and shape seeks to capture some of the concealed beauty of what it means to be human.

She draws on her background as an interior designer and the successful retailer of Madder & Rouge in Auckland,  to create visually rich works that explore the emotional and spiritual landscapes of the human experience. Her creative process always begins with words—a group of phrases or sentiments that encapsulate a feeling. From there, Erin selects a palette of colours that best express these emotions, allowing her paintings to take form in a way that feels organic and intentional. Speaking to Homestyle magazine, she described her pieces as “songs of beauty and joy.”

Erin’s work delves into the unseen internal spaces we navigate daily, capturing shared hopes, fears, and moments of self-reflection. She believes in the journey of painting itself—the direction of each mark, the process of creation, and the transformation that occurs along the way. Her paintings offer a glimpse of a reality that lies beyond the physical world, seeking to record and preserve these intangible, emotional landscapes. Her works have beautifully textured surfaces, a muted colour palette and surreal dreamlike forms.

Erin holds a BA in English and a Teaching Diploma from the University of Auckland, as well as a Diploma in Painting from ISCD in Sydney.