Eric Armusik was born and raised in the northeastern coal region of Pennsylvania. Once one of
the largest coal mining operations in the county then was replaced with the depressions of post-
industry. The landscape riddled with abandoned buildings and mountains of culum provided little
inspiration for the young talented artist. What remained out of all the blight was a vibrant and
ethnic community strong in faith. What the community lacked in public art and museums it
made up for it with churches on every city block. It was here Eric had his first experiences with
art staring at the walls and ceilings at church every Sunday. The traditions and academic
rendering of Catholic artwork made a permanent impression that continues to influence his work
today.
Armusik attended Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B. F. A. in painting, with and
a minor in an art history focusing on Baroque art. He spent his last semester studying painting
and art history in Italy. The rare opportunity to view masterworks by Baroque painters Caravaggio
and Artemisia Gentileschi had a profound effect on the quality of his work and focused the
inspiration he experienced as a child.
To date the artist’s work has been featured in such galleries and museums as the Salmagundi Art
Club, New York; Allentown Art Museum; Philip and Muriel Berman Art Museum, Ursinus College;
Monsoon Galleries; Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts; State Museum of Pennsylvania; and Reading Public
Museum. His paintings are in the permanent collections of The Trenton City Museum, Lehigh
Valley Hospital and several private collections and his work has also been prominently featured in
publications like American Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, Victorian Homes, Old House
Journal, ArtMATTERS, Morning Call, Reading Eagle and William and Mary Review.
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