ERIK SPROHGE(American, B. 1932)Erik Sprohge was born in Riga, Latvia, spent his early childhood in Germany and came to Houston, Texas in 1937. At sixteen he was a student of Lowell Collins and Robert Preusser, at the Museum School, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. He received a degree in architecture from Rice Institute and in 1954 won the William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship, enabling him to travel extensively throughout Europe. He also studied painting at the Institute Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in 1961, and at the Glassell School, Houston in 1984.In the 1970’s Sprohge was design partner with Converse, Sprohge & Cox, Architects, after which he specialized in architectural illustration. Sprohge has been active in the Art League of Houston, and has had one-man shows at Dreyer Gallery, Lantern Lane Gallery, at the Jack Meier Gallery, Lowell Collins Gallery and Watercolor Art Society-Houston, Galleries. His works can be seen in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington.As a watercolorist, Sprohge’s works reflect actual or remembered scenes that, while realistically rendered, portray the spirit behind the reality. Selected Biographical and Career Highlights1932, Born in Riga, Latvia1937, Moves to Houston, Texas1938-48, Attends Museum School children’s classes, Houston, Texas1948, Studies under Robert Preusser and Lowell Collins at Houston Museum School of Art1949-54, Earns B.S. in architecture, Rice Institute, Houston, Texas1955-57, Serves in U.S. Army, stationed in Europe, part-time illustrator for Special Services1961, Studies under Fred Samuelson at Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico1964-72, Design partner at Converse, Sprohge, & Cox Architects1966, Fred Ealand Memorial Award, Art League of Houston1981, Studies under Philip Renteria at Glassell School of Art, Houston, Texas1999-present, Signature Elite Membership, Watercolor Art Society, Houston, Texas2005, Lifetime Achievement Award as an Early Texas Artist, CASETASelected Exhibitions1964, Dreyer Gallery, Houston, Texas1969, Lantern Lane Gallery, Houston, Texas1974, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas1997, Lowell Collins Gallery, Houston, Texas2005, Rice Institute and The Visual Arts in Houston 1900-1960, Houston, Texas2006, Early Houston Artists in Houston Collections, The Heritage Society, Houston, Texas2002-06 and 2011, Participation in International show, WAS-H