Copper State

About this artwork

A high-fructose painting of summertime's caramelization. Burnt skies, sticky heat waves, and a melting city build the world of desert metropolis. Phoenicians empathize with the fate of ice cream, drizzled with fire while viewing purple, pink, and orange clouds of sunset. Whether you see the nostalgia of summer, the Arizona state flag, or a near-future temptation, Copper State can be eaten with the eyes without it melting away in the Valley of the Sun. Copper State is Nick A. Erickson's piece for Valley Metro's Artsline Spring 2026. The original acrylic painting was created on a 40" x 20" canvas, after which the piece was digitally scanned, printed large-scale, and wrapped over Valley Metro light rail cars and Valley Metro's light rail station on Roosevelt and Central Ave in downtown Phoenix.