CV

EDUCATION

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA --- 2001-2006

  • Painting and Printmaking and Sculpture Departments
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Major: Painting and Printmaking Summa Cum Laude-- 3.96 GPA
  • Major: Sculpture and Extended Media Summa Cum Laude-- 3.96 GPA
  • Awarded eleven scholarships and grants during undergraduate studies

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA --- 2007-2008

  • Department of Art and Art History
  • Non-degree seeking Graduate Student and Teaching Assistant

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (*indicates solo exhibition)

  •  Shanghai Striking Information & Technology Company (188Art Warehouse),
  • Minhang District, Shanghai, China. “East Meets West.” group show
  •  *E3 Convergence Gallery, Missoula, MT. “Eons, Epics, and Epochs.”
  •  *Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Great Falls, MT. “Peneplaining.”
  • * SLAM Space, Bozeman MT. “Ella Watson”
  • *Cheever Gallery, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. “What Remains”
  •  *Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT, “Feeling Color: Ella Watson,” solo exhibition with workshops at local hospital, St. Peters, teaching art to a Oncology Support Group
  •  2015 *Emerson Center for Culture & the Arts, Bozeman, MT, “Geysers, Pelts, and Mudpots”
  •  Louisville Center for the Arts, Louisville, CO ,“Louisville Art Association 30th National Fine Art Show”
  •  Tiger Strikes Asteroid’s Artist-Run at The Satellite Show Miami, Miami Beach, “Art in America,” Julia Torres, curator
  •  2014 PS1 MoMA, Long Island City, NYC, “Roberta and Bob Smith Present: Art Amnesty”, group show
  •  PS1 MoMA Office of the Registrar, Long Island City, NYC, invitational exhibit
  •  Cabinet of Curiosity, Longmont, CO, a juried exhibition
  •  Bozeman Traffic Signal Box Project, Downtown Bozeman, juried competition, box is located at 11th and Main
  • * The Foundry, Bozeman, MT, “Relief”
  •  Jimmy’s Diner, Brooklyn, NY, “Twin Peaks: A Tribute Show”, Katrina Fimmel, curator
  •  2013 Wayfarers Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Ransom”, George Ferrandi, curator
  •  Zootown Arts Community Center, Missoula, MT, “Day of the Dead”
  •  2012 Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY, “405 Alive”, co-curated
  •  *Wayfarers Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Liverwurst Release Party”
  •  2010 Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Popular Artist Show”
  •  *F.A.B Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, “Liverwurst”
  •  Drawproject, Valdosta, GA, Jamie Harmon, curator

SELECTED AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

  •  2015 Montana Arts Council Strategic Artist Grant, recipient
  •  2014 Montana Arts Council Strategic Artist Grant, recipient
  •  2008 The Robert Rauschenberg Change, Inc. Emergency Artist Grant, recipient
  •  2006 School of the Arts Dean’s Award, Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Juried by Heidi Trepenier, Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
  •  2005 Dean’s International Study Grant, Italy, Awarded by Faculty, VCU
  • Nominee for the School of the Arts for the  Phi Kappa Phi William C. Hall Undergraduate Scholarship, Awarded by Faculty, VCU
  •  School of the Arts Dean’s Award, Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Juried by Sandra Skurvida, Anderson Gallery, VCU

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

  • Gallery Director for the School of Art, Montana State University, Helen E. Copeland and Waller-Yoblonsky Galleries,  Bozeman, MT — 2015 - current
    • Manages archives, curates and schedules exhibitions, budgets, and manages the International
    • Artist in Residency Program at Montana State University. Curated exhibitions include Right to Decide, Bozeman Collectors Show, Field:Work by Rachel Hayes and Ron Johnson.
    • Oversees and teaches four interns, special events, and graduate gallery managers.
  • Board Member, SLAM (Supporting Local Artists and Musicians,) Bozeman, MT — 2016 - current
    • Organizes and facilitates local art festivals, events, and commissions, including SLAM Summer Festival and SLAM Winter Showcase. Acts as liaison between SLAM and MSU School of Art.
    • Works with MSU Student Guilds to get real-world experience. Juries applications for SLAM events, PR, and hangs and curates work in the SLAM Space on Main Street Bozeman.
  • Volunteer, Montana Racial Equity Project, Bozeman, MT—-2017 - current
    • Organizes and sends out Mailchimp newsletter and helps with events.
  • Speaker, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT — April 2017
    • Lectured to College of Arts and Architecture students about organ donation and how to use one’s art during times of stress and physical ailments. Discussed resources and how to be resourceful.
  • Speaker, Manhattan High School, Manhattan, MT— 2015 - current
    • Speaks to Driver’s Education classes four times a year about the importance of organ donation
  • Freelance Artist, Bozeman, MT --- current
    • Curates art shows, regularly sells work, shows work in galleries and exhibitions, and completes commissions. Self-installed solo shows include “Liverwurst” at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity, “Liverwurst” at Wayfarers in Brooklyn, and “Relief” at The Foundry, Bozeman, MT.
    • Peruse work at www.ellawatson.net.
  • Art Installation and Fabrication, PS1 MoMA, Long Island City, NY --- 2011-2013
    • Installed works for major exhibitions, repaired galleries, and fabricated objects for various exhibitions, including Laurel Nakadate, Henry Taylor, and “EXPO 1: New York (2013)”
  • Author, Liverwurst, Brooklyn, NY --- 2012
    • Self-published Liverwurst, a compilation of works made while waiting for a live-donor liver transplant. Designed the layout, as well as created all works and writing within. Can be viewed on Amazon.
  • Internship, Relevision Productions, Vancouver, BC --- 2011
    • Under filmmaker Roger Larry, created movie banners and advertisements for the movie "Crossing." Interviewed subjects for Citizen Marc, as well as photographed and edited visual images for Roger Larry.
  • Fabricator, Tara Donovan Studios, Fantasy Sport Trophies, Brooklyn Guild, and Chico MacMurtrie Studios, all based out of Brooklyn, NY --- 2010 --- 2013
    • Assisting in sculpture fabrication, design, purchasing materials, and installation of artwork.
  • Internship, Blackthorn Productions, Norwalk, CT --- 2010
    • Worked for Creature Effects Department and Special FX make-up team. Created props (both singular originals and multiples) and sculpted positives for latex masks. Dealt with actors, directors, technicians, etc.
  • Art Teacher, Graduate Assistant under Michelle Kong, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 2006-2007
    • Oversaw the Sculpture Workshop by maintaining and ordering tools and materials. Also taught Sculpture, Drawing, and Design classes at the collegiate level. Installed student art shows at the Samek Gallery at Bucknell University.
  • Artist Assistant to SunTek Chung, photographer, Richmond, VA--- 2004-2006
    • Created and designed props and sets for photoshoots and tableaus.

COMMISSIONS and COLLECTIONS

In national and International private collections.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• DeMarco, Margaret. “Watson’s hands-on art exhibit on display at Paris Gibson Square.”

KRTV.com [http://www.krtv.com/story/34156405/ella-watson] 30 Dec. 2016.

• “Art exhibitions on display at Emerson.” The BoZone. [Bozeman] 15 May 2015: 3A. Print.

• “Ella Watson.” Bozeman Magazine. 2 Feb. 2014: Cover and 7. Print.

• Everts, Ali. “Artist paints love letters to Existence.” The Bozeman Chronicle. 11 July 2014: 7.

Print.