Erika Van Kirk grew up in a family that cultivated a deep love and respect for nature within her. Frequenting the forests and lakes of Michigan as a child, she found herself noticing the endless detail of the mysterious world around her. This same curiosity and fascination with the natural world today is a driver for lifelong learning and serves as inspiration for her ceramic art practice and other creative pursuits. She works as a Park Ranger with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton, Michigan.