Erik Richard Parra was born and raised in the border metroplex of El Paso-Juárez. He received a Bachelors of Fine Art degree in painting from The University of Texas at Austin and completed a Masters of Fine Art while on fellowship at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
Currently based in San Francisco, California Parra has exhibited internationally in alternative spaces, commercial galleries and museums in Berlin, Brazil, Los Angeles, London and New York. In the Bay Area Parra's work has been exhibited at Blankspace Gallery, Johansson Projects, The Headlands Center for the Arts, Root Division, Southern Exposure, Kala Art Institute and the Berkeley Art Center. Parra’s work is held in the collection of Molly Mae and Stanford University and has been included in publications including New American Paintings, the SF Bay Gaurdian and the LA Times. Additionally Parra teaches art and has lectured at universities, given artist talks, garnered residencies and awards.