Bio
El Ronan is a visual artist and tattooer whose work plays in the space between ornamental and sacred. Drawing on themes of death, myth, and superstition, their paintings and prints are rich in detail, combining stylized forms and heavy symbolism with allusions to folk art, American Traditional tattooing, and religious iconography.
CV
EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWCASES
2025
Emerging Artist, Art in the Pearl Fine Arts Showcase, Portland, OR
3rd Annual Arts Explosion, Federal Way, WA
2020
Contributing artist to The Hand magazine, issue 28 (print)
Michigan Collegiate Art Exhibition, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
Fresh Looks 2020, Ford & University Galleries, Eastern Michigan University,Ypsilanti, MI
2019
As Above, So Below, GVSU Art Gallery, GVSU, MI (solo)
Rejected!, artlessbastard, De Pere WI
West Michigan Area Show, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Student Scholars Showcase, GVSU, MI
Featured cover art for Fishladder, GVSU Student Literary Magazine
2018
Critters, artlessBastard, De Pere, WI
In Pursuit of Beauty, Grand Valley State University, MI (solo)
5th Annual Student Juried Exhibition, Grand Valley State University, MI
The Halloween Show, Padnos Gallery, Grand Valley State University, MI
2017
Edible Reflections, Padnos Gallery, Grand Valley State University, MI (co-curated)
2016
Featured cover art for Sundog Lit, issue 11 (digital)
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
2020
Emerging Artist Award, East Lansing Arts Festival
2019
Excellence in a Discipline Award in Studio Art, GVSU
2018
Two Week Scholarship to Ox-Bow School of Art, GVSU
2017
Excellence in Foundation Work, GVSU
Merit Scholarship, Ox-Bow School of Art
2015
Art and Design Award, 2nd Place, Michigan Technological University
Visual and Performing Art Award, Michigan Technological University
EDUCATION
2019
BFA printmaking emphasis
Grand Valley State University (GVSU), Allendale, MI
2015
BS biological science, magna cum laude
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
PUBLICATIONS
2015
“Grey Road”, WOW! Women on Writing, flash fiction runner up, winter 2015
2014
“The Cloud”, Freeze Frame Fiction, volume i