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