Erik Olson's "Hēmikrāníā" series explores the intersection of personal portraiture and the visual phenomena of migraine auras. Each work, whether a painting on canvas or a carved wood sculpture, captures the essence of close friends while reflecting Olson’s own experiences with migraines. The portraits delve into the structured, rhythmic disturbances of migraine auras, offering a visual glimpse into this neurological phenomenon. Olson's unique blend of intimate portraiture and abstract, kaleidoscopic forms provides a rich exploration of identity and the often misunderstood, invisible experience of migraines.

Olson earned a bachelor’s degree from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (2007). In 2014/2015, he attended the critically acclaimed art academy, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, as a guest student of internationally renowned artist/professor Peter Doig. In the fall of 2018, Olson’s works were featured in Cosmos, an exhibition organized by the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Canada. Olson has been the subject of solo exhibitions in major cities across Canada and internationally in Europe and the United States. His work is included in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto Dominion Bank and the Ivey Business School. Olson currently lives and works in Calgary.