Erik Flatmo is internationally recognized for his scenic design work in contemporary dance, especially through his collaborations with choreographer Trajal Harrell. Together, they have created numerous world premieres in theaters, festivals, galleries, and museums globally. In the United States, Erik has designed scenery for a broad range of theater, dance, and opera productions. He has built strong artistic partnerships with regional theaters such as the American Conservatory Theater, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Berkeley Repertory Theater, San Diego’s Old Globe, Florida’s Asolo Repertory Theater, and South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA. Additionally, he has designed over twenty original productions at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre.
Erik taught scenic design for fourteen years as a faculty member in Stanford University's Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, followed by a year as a visiting professor at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Before his time at Stanford, he taught at Barnard College in New York City. He holds a BA in architecture from Columbia University, an MFA in design from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate of advanced study in scenography from POLI.design at the Politecnico di Milano, earned in 2020. Beyond his work in theater, Erik has completed projects in fashion and independent film.