Eric Owen (or Nerdy Bear) is a queer Iowa native artist working in the medium of digital art. His works explore themes and ideas of queer representation, strange and silly creatures, as well as the beauty of horror. Their work self-described as queer pop art invites viewers to challenge their notion of what is considered “normal” and to see that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and creatures. Also, Nerdy Bear is a big fan of cats.