Eric Wiggins
Curator · Creative Director · Cultural Programmer
Richmond, VA · eric@egotthejazz.com · LinkedIn
Positions
2016–present — Co-Founder & Head Curator · Thank You Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
Contemporary art platform. 30+ exhibitions and public programs, including ongoing partnerships with Virginia MOCA.
2025–present — Co-Founder & Creative Director · Mo Fiyah, Virginia Beach, VA
Reggae and dancehall series that reached 500+ attendees per event in its first year. Lead talent booking, programming, and creative direction across coastal Virginia venues, from all-vinyl nights to concert halls, plus a Miami edition.
2006–present — Head Buyer & Store Manager · Commonwealth, Virginia Beach, VA
Independent menswear boutique. Manage high-six-figure annual buying budgets with 85%+ sell-through, help lead a lean retail and e-commerce team, and have co-produced 35+ brand launches, in-store activations, and anniversary events.
Committees and Juries
2025–present — Contemporary Art Initiative Committee · Chrysler Museum of Art
2024–present — Exhibitions Committee · Virginia MOCA
2025 — Co-Juror · Where We Meet group exhibition, Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA
Curated Exhibitions
2026 — Seamless: Art & Design · Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA
Co-curated with Heather Hakimzadeh for the opening of the museum’s new home. April 18–August 16. Fifteen artists, including Shepard Fairey, Eric Haze, Andy Howell, Shantell Martin, Barry McGee, and Steve “ESPO” Powers.
2023 — Collectors Exhibition · Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA
Selected works from the Thank You Gallery collection for display at the museum.
2012 — Cellph Made · In collaboration with Virginia MOCA
Independently curated and developed a group exhibition of cell phone photography. Second edition, 2018.
Public Programs and Collaborations
2024–present — Night Shift · Virginia MOCA × Thank You Gallery
Co-produce the museum’s after-hours series: art direction, artist market vendor sourcing, production logistics, and on-site setup. Grew attendance from roughly 300 to 600+, selling out Night Shift V at the new museum on July 24, 2026. Night Shift VI (December 11, 2026) sold out within 7 hours of tickets going on sale.
2026 — Bodega Rossell · Night Shift V, Virginia MOCA
Co-produced the Dickies activation with Evan Rossell and Dee Rosse: planning, logistics, final design development, and installation.
2026 — I Want To Thank You · Virginia MOCA
Coordinated logistics and on-site production for live screen printing with Steve “ESPO” Powers and ESPO’s Art World.
2025 — The Art of Dancehall with Walshy Fire · Thank You Gallery × Mo Fiyah
Planning, logistics, and art direction for the book talk and signing.
2024 — In Conversation with Steve “ESPO” Powers and Cosmo Baker · Chrysler Museum of Art
Coordinated communications and venue sourcing.
2023 — Collectors Bazaar · Virginia MOCA
Planning, logistics, setup, and vendor sourcing. Also presented a public talk on building an art collection.
Brand Activations and Pop-Ups
2025 — Jamaica Relief Tee · Mo Fiyah × Freako Rico
Developed the tee with Freako Rico and handled production, sales, and marketing.
2023 — N.E.R.D × PLEASURES Pop-Up · Commonwealth, Virginia Beach, VA
Co-produced the in-store pop-up, from setup through breakdown, including merchandise presentation and sales.
2023 — Miracle Seltzer Pop-Up Shop · Thank You Gallery
Planning, logistics, setup, and merchandising.
2023 — Something in the Water Collaboration Tee · Thank You Gallery
Co-developed the collaboration tee and coordinated partner communications.
2022 — Pharrell Williams’ Mighty Dream Pop-Up Shop · Thank You Gallery
Planning, merchandise presentation, and on-site retail operations, from setup through breakdown.
2022 — Commonwealth × NPR Tiny Desk · ComplexCon, Long Beach, CA
Co-produced a replica Tiny Desk booth and co-branded merchandise activation, November 19–20. Coordinated booth logistics, setup, merchandising, and sales.
2022 — INVADERS · Star Trak Entertainment
Talent booking, art direction, and on-site production for both editions, at Chelsea Music Hall, New York, and Elevation 27, Virginia Beach.
2017 — Commonwealth Booth · ComplexCon, Long Beach, CA
Coordinated booth planning, installation, merchandising, sales, and teardown.
2017 — Better Gift Shop Hot Dog Cart · Dover Street Market, New York, NY
Co-developed a custom Thank You Gallery × Better Gift Shop × Dover Street Market umbrella and tee for the installation.
Mo Fiyah Music Programming
Nov 2026 — Champion Lover · Roses HiFi, Virginia Beach, VA
All-vinyl session with Jah Boo, DJ Wizard, K.Ward, and Markus Gold.
Aug 2026 — Champion Lover · Roses HiFi, Virginia Beach, VA
All-vinyl session with Kill Devil Dub, DJ Wizard, DJ Nobe, and J. DeBeck.
May 2026 — One Year Strong · Seaside Patio, Virginia Beach, VA
Featuring Sugarbearz, Micky Slicks, and Ayanna Heaven.
May 2026 — Mo Fiyah · Dante’s HiFi, Miami, FL
The series’ first out-of-state event. Co-produced, handled logistics, and booked the full lineup: DJ Got Now, Markus Gold, DJ Nobe, and K.Ward.
Dec 2025 — Champion Lover NYE · Glass Light Hotel & Gallery, Norfolk, VA
Co-produced at this Autograph Collection hotel: logistics, hospitality, and F&B with hotel management and LVMH (Moët & Chandon, Hennessy). Featuring Lex Lucent, Jah Boo, DJ Nobe, Bukka Chromatic, Markus Gold, JuJu Drum, and Shaolinn & The Rocksteadys.
Nov 2025 — Champion Lover · Glass Light Hotel & Gallery, Norfolk, VA
Featuring DJ Doddie and DJ Bee.
Sep 2025 — Drank & Patties · Frank & Patties, Virginia Beach, VA
All-vinyl after party following the Mo Fiyah opening set for Ziggy Marley & Burning Spear at The Dome. Handled booking, logistics, art direction, and marketing, and helped coordinate F&B.
Jun 2025 — Mo Fiyah · Seaside Patio, Virginia Beach, VA
Featuring DJ Delinger, DJ IRE, and Walshy Fire.
May 2025 — Mo Fiyah · Seaside Patio, Virginia Beach, VA
Series launch, May 31. Featuring Disko Dave, Blood Diamond, and DJ Bo.
Opening and Support Credits
Sep 2025 — Ziggy Marley & Burning Spear · The Dome, Virginia Beach, VA
Mo Fiyah opening set, September 22.
Aug 2025 — Beres Hammond · The NorVa, Norfolk, VA
Mo Fiyah opening set, August 21.
Selected Press
2026 — “Seamless: Art and Design” · VEER Magazine
2025 — “Art Militant: Night Shift and the Reanimation of Virginia MOCA” · Art Currently
2024 — “Virginia MOCA gallery and gift shop aims to elevate Virginia Beach creative scene” · The Virginian-Pilot
2021 — “Commonwealth × adidas RESPONSE featuring Eric W.” · Commonwealth
Thank You Gallery Exhibition Archive
2025 — As For The Love · She Skin · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Paper Dreams · Anthony Coleman · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Beyond The Needle · Chris Garcia · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Sunburnt Jellyfish · Sam Clayman · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Stink is for Lovers · Evan Rossell · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Sorry I Took So Long · Freako Rico · Virginia Beach, VA
2025 — Last Call · Matt Reichhoff & Zane Fischer · Virginia Beach, VA
2024 — Danny O’s Greatest Picks · Danny O’Connor · Virginia Beach, VA
2024 — Looking For A Place to Crash · Steve “ESPO” Powers Weekend in VA · Virginia Beach, VA
2024 — Skate & Destroy · Andy Howell · Virginia Beach, VA
2024 — A Pen Brought Me Here · Tommy Mitchell · Virginia Beach, VA
2023 — Mind CTRL · MC Graffiti Crew 20 Year Retrospective · Virginia Beach, VA
2023 — Summerland · Brock Saunders · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — Foreign Shipment · Nurse Signs · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — El Cruce · Paint, JoinsBack & Pino Supay · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — Their Already There · Tim Skirven · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — Picasso Grillo Vanagas · Joe Grillo · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — Thank You Motel · Group show: Jason Rodman, Sam Clayman, Marleigh Culver, Hampton Boyer, Josh Newton, Danny Moore, Will Clark · Virginia Beach, VA
2022 — Presa Canario · Nicholas Oriza · Virginia Beach, VA
2019 — Space Sticks · Jordan Brazie · Norfolk, VA
2019 — One Day At A Time · Jason S. Wright · Norfolk, VA
2018 — Cellph Made 2 · Cell phone photography group show with Virginia MOCA
2018 — Chicken Eyes · Matt Furie · Norfolk, VA
2018 — Travis Millard · Norfolk, VA
2018 — Emma Kohlmann · Norfolk, VA
2018 — The Ones We Missed · Jim Houser · Norfolk, VA
2017 — Growing In The Ash Can · Ben Boshart & Jason Stick · Norfolk, VA
2017 — Friends · Lynda Bostrom & Danny Moore · Norfolk, VA
2017 — Lucas Beaufort · Norfolk, VA
2017 — Smiles · Bryan Woodland · Norfolk, VA
2017 — In Fine Style · The Dancehall Art of Wilfred Limonious · Norfolk, VA
2016 — Live to Be · Hampton Boyer · Norfolk, VA
2016 — Thank You For Nothin · Avi Gold · Norfolk, VA
2016 — Sorry About That · Jason Rodman · Norfolk, VA