Dana Ellyn
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Career history · 1971 — present

Dana Ellyn

Every show, every story, every year — a career still adding to itself.

Born 1971, Brooklyn, NY Painting in Washington, DC since 1989 Full time since 2002 4,500+ paintings sold, direct to collectors
The career at a glance — documented entries per year 268 entries
1971 · 1 entry
1972 · 0 entries
1973 · 0 entries
1974 · 0 entries
1975 · 0 entries
1976 · 0 entries
1977 · 0 entries
1978 · 1 entry
1979 · 0 entries
1980 · 0 entries
1981 · 0 entries
1982 · 0 entries
1983 · 0 entries
1984 · 0 entries
1985 · 0 entries
1986 · 0 entries
1987 · 0 entries
1988 · 0 entries
1989 · 1 entry
1990 · 0 entries
1991 · 0 entries
1992 · 2 entries
1993 · 0 entries
1994 · 0 entries
1995 · 0 entries
1996 · 0 entries
1997 · 0 entries
1998 · 0 entries
1999 · 0 entries
2000 · 0 entries
2001 · 0 entries
2002 · 8 entries2003 · 11 entries2004 · 8 entries2005 · 11 entries2006 · 15 entries2007 · 19 entries2008 · 19 entries2009 · 17 entries2010 · 7 entries2011 · 8 entries2012 · 15 entries2013 · 20 entries2014 · 16 entries2015 · 16 entries2016 · 15 entries2017 · 19 entries2018 · 5 entries2019 · 7 entries
2020 · 0 entries
2021 · 6 entries2022 · 4 entries2023 · 4 entries2024 · 1 entry2025 · 9 entries2026 · 3 entries
1971198019902000201020202026

20263 entries

milestone

Published in the Maine Arts Journal's inaugural “Right Now!” feature

Maine Arts Journal
Catch and Release, 2025
milestone

Featured artist, Art for Meat Tax festival

Creative Factory Veldze · Riga, Latvia
September 5–6, 2026
milestone

More than 4,500 original paintings sold directly to collectors

20259 entries

Work exhibited at the American University Art Museum, American University Museum, 2025
milestone

Work exhibited at the American University Art Museum

American University Museum · Washington, DC
Revives 31 Days in July as DEFILED, 2025
milestone

Revives 31 Days in July as DEFILED

America's Future, Cover art for 50th Anniversary anthologyWashington Writer's Publishing House, 2025
publication

America's Future

Cover art for 50th Anniversary anthologyWashington Writer's Publishing House
Mid-Atlantic Review, Art featured, 2025
publication

Mid-Atlantic Review

Art featured

20241 entry

20234 entries

Creativity in the Time of Covid, Michigan State University, 2023
group exhibition

Creativity in the Time of Covid

Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI
C'est L'Art, Gallery B, 2023
group exhibition

C'est L'Art

Gallery B · Bethesda, MD
MidAtlantic Review, 2023
cover and art featured inside

MidAtlantic Review

Vegan Art: A book of Visual Protest, 2023
art featured

Vegan Art: A book of Visual Protest

20224 entries

Animal Rights Congress, Vienna, Austria, 2022
Group exhibition

Animal Rights Congress

Vienna, Austria
Kafka Campaign, Prague Metro, 2022
art used in Prague subway campaign

Kafka Campaign

Prague Metro · Prague, Czech Republic
Restaurant Chic Dream, Porto, Portugal, 2022
permanent installation

Restaurant Chic Dream

Porto, Portugal
I'm an Animal Too, 2022
article

I'm an Animal Too

20216 entries

How Are You Doing?, Garner Narrative Gallery, 2021
group exhibition

How Are You Doing?

Garner Narrative Gallery · Louisville, KY
Tenou'a Magazine, Paris, France, 2021
art featured

Tenou'a Magazine

Paris, France
American Dream or American Nightmare?"Maamul (מעמול), Sapir College, Israel, 2021
interview/article

American Dream or American Nightmare?"Maamul (מעמול)

Sapir College, Israel
KIND, book, 2021
book cover and art featured inside

KIND

book
Vegan feature, Dramascara, 2021
article

Vegan feature

Dramascara
Artivists: follow talented animal rights artists, Soucitne Magazine, 2021
article

Artivists: follow talented animal rights artists

Soucitne Magazine · Prague, Czech Republic

20197 entries

No Hate!, Center for Contemporary Political Art, 2019
group exhibition

No Hate!

Center for Contemporary Political Art · Washington, DC
10th Anniversary Show410GoodBuddy, Washington, DC, 2019
group exhibition

10th Anniversary Show410GoodBuddy

Washington, DC
Collaborators, Hill Center, 2019
group exhibition

Collaborators

Hill Center · Washington, DC
Transformer Auction, Katzen Center, 2019
art exhibit/auction

Transformer Auction

Katzen Center · Washington, DC
Protecting Animals Across Borders, book, 2019
book cover

Protecting Animals Across Borders

book
Art Collecting Washington Post, 2019
newspaper article

Art Collecting Washington Post

The Political Dining Table, book, 2019
art featured

The Political Dining Table

book · South Korea

20185 entries

milestone

Work exhibited at the St. Petersburg Museum of Art

MISP · St Petersburg, Russia
All in the Family"Metro Gallery, Lincoln, NE, 2018
group exhibition

All in the Family"Metro Gallery

Lincoln, NE
Morris and Lucille, Morris American Bar, 2018
permanent installation

Morris and Lucille

Morris American Bar · Washington, DC
Vegan Life Calendar, 2018
Press

Vegan Life Calendar

201719 entries

Thrill Ride, Gallery 50, 2017
solo exhibit

Thrill Ride

Gallery 50 · Rehoboth Beach, DE
In the Neighborhood, Pub & The People, 2017
solo exhibit

In the Neighborhood

Pub & The People · Washington, DC
Stronger Together, Artists & Makers Gallery, 2017
2-person exhibit

Stronger Together

Artists & Makers Gallery · Rockville, MD
Art and the City, Hill Center, 2017
group exhibition

Art and the City

Hill Center · Washington, DC
Meet the Artist Night, Arlington Traditional School, 2017
school event

Meet the Artist Night

Arlington Traditional School · Arlington, VA
Transformer Auction, Katzen Center, 2017
art show/auction

Transformer Auction

Katzen Center · Washington, DC
Shock & Awe" (closing), American Visionary Art Museum, 2017
museum exhibit

Shock & Awe" (closing)

American Visionary Art Museum · Baltimore, MD
Is Separate Ever Equal?, DCCAH, 2017
group exhibition

Is Separate Ever Equal?

DCCAH · Washington, DC
Animal Rights Art, Germany, 2017
calendar

Animal Rights Art

Germany
Tenou'a Magazine (winter), Paris, France, 2017
art featured

Tenou'a Magazine (winter)

Paris, France
Tenou'a Magazine (summer), Paris, France, 2017
art featured

Tenou'a Magazine (summer)

Paris, France
Hill Rag, March, cover, 2017
newspaper cover

Hill Rag

March, cover · Washington, DC
Hill Rag, July, cover, 2017
newspaper cover

Hill Rag

July, cover · Washington, DC
Art of Carnism article, Huff Post, 2017
newspaper article

Art of Carnism article

Huff Post · England
Gaia Magazine, Turkey, 2017
article

Gaia Magazine

Turkey
5 Female Illustrators ..., Hong Kong 01 newspaper, 2017
newspaper article

5 Female Illustrators ...

Hong Kong 01 newspaper
Veg Article, Hong Kong 01 newspaper, 2017
newspaper article

Veg Article

Hong Kong 01 newspaper
Cultural Journalism, David Arioch, 2017
interview/article

Cultural Journalism

David Arioch · Portugal
Art of Compassion, book, 2017
art featured

Art of Compassion

book

201615 entries

milestone

Work enters the American Visionary Art Museum

American Visionary Art Museum · Baltimore, MD
Some Animals are, More Equal Than Others, 2016
solo exhibit

Some Animals are

More Equal Than Others · AMP Art Market
Shock & Awe, American Visionary Art Museum, 2016
museum exhibit

Shock & Awe

American Visionary Art Museum · Baltimore, MD
Moda 360, The New Mart, 2016
exhibit/fashion show

Moda 360

The New Mart · Los Angeles, CA
Bycatch, By Hand, P Street Gallery, 2016
2-person exhibit

Bycatch, By Hand

P Street Gallery · Washington, DC
Animus, Kabaret Karamel, 2016
group exhibition

Animus

Kabaret Karamel · London, England
Home Show, Washington, DC, 2016
2-person exhibit

Home Show

Washington, DC
Transformer Auction, Katzen Center, 2016
art exhibit/auction

Transformer Auction

Katzen Center · Washington, DC
Baltimore Vegan Drinks, Hobos, 2016
exhibit/art event

Baltimore Vegan Drinks

Hobos · Rehoboth Beach, DE
The Strivers, book cover, 2016
book

The Strivers

book cover
Art of Compassion, calendar cover, 2016
calendar

Art of Compassion

calendar cover
Our Hen House, 2016
interview/audio

Our Hen House

Art in the City, Hill Rag, 2016
newspaper article

Art in the City

Hill Rag · Washington, DC
Vegan Lifestyle Magazine, 2016
magazine article/interview

Vegan Lifestyle Magazine

Intro to Veganismbooklet, 2016
Press

Intro to Veganismbooklet

201516 entries

Speciesism, P Street Gallery, 2015
solo exhibit

Speciesism

P Street Gallery · Washington, DC
VegFest, Gallery 50, 2015
solo exhibit

VegFest

Gallery 50 · Rehoboth Beach, DE
Deja Vu, Artevistas Gallery, 2015
2-person exhibit

Deja Vu

Artevistas Gallery · Barcelona, Spain
(Self) Made in DC, 410 GooDBuddY, 2015
2-person exhibit

(Self) Made in DC

410 GooDBuddY · Washington, DC
DC Arts Grant Exhibit, DCCAH, 2015
group exhibition

DC Arts Grant Exhibit

DCCAH · Washington, DC
Little Salon, Washington, DC, 2015
exhibit/event

Little Salon

Washington, DC
Woman's Week, AMP Art Market, 2015
group exhibit

Woman's Week

AMP Art Market · Provincetown, MA
Happiness Is..., AMP, 2015
2-person exhibit

Happiness Is...

AMP · Art Market
Transformer Auction, Katzen Center, 2015
art exhibit/auction

Transformer Auction

Katzen Center · Washington, DC
VegFest DC, Washington, DC, 2015
art event

VegFest DC

Washington, DC
Charlie Visconage Show, DCAC, 2015
talk show

Charlie Visconage Show

DCAC · Washington, DC
Animal Liberation Currents, 2015
interview/article

Animal Liberation Currents

Tranquility Du Jour, 2015
interview/audio

Tranquility Du Jour

A Little Earth, 2015
interview/article

A Little Earth

Barefoot Vegan, 2015
interview/article

Barefoot Vegan

201416 entries

Flash Back"Flash Gallery, Barcelona, Spain, 2014
solo exhibit

Flash Back"Flash Gallery

Barcelona, Spain
Cheap Thrills, Anacostia Art Center, 2014
group exhibition

Cheap Thrills

Anacostia Art Center · Washington, DC
Swiss Mixer, GallAerie, 2014
2-person exhibit

Swiss Mixer

GallAerie · Washington, DC
Exhibit and Wine launch, Regan Center, 2014
Group exhibition

Exhibit and Wine launch

Regan Center · Washington, DC
100 Bowls of Compassion, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, 2014
group exhibition

100 Bowls of Compassion

Joan Hisaoka Gallery · Washington, DC
Transformer Auction, Katzen Center, 2014
art show/auction

Transformer Auction

Katzen Center · Washington, DC
Saturday Nighters, Eatonville, 2014
artist talk

Saturday Nighters

Eatonville · Washington, DC
Viva la Vegan, Interview about exhibit in Australia, 2014
interview/video

Viva la Vegan

Interview about exhibit in Australia
Compassion Magazine, 2014
interview/article

Compassion Magazine

201320 entries

milestone

Final consecutive year of 31 Days in July

eleventh year

201215 entries

Fun House, Mr. Rain's Fun House, 2012
solo exhibit

Fun House

Mr. Rain's Fun House · American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
January
Tight Fit, The Dunes, 2012
group exhibition

Tight Fit

The Dunes · Washington, DC
February
23+23, Waverly Street Gallery, 2012
group exhibition

23+23

Waverly Street Gallery · Bethesda, MD
February
Yuri's Night, Artisphere, 2012
group exhibition

Yuri's Night

Artisphere · Rosslyn, VA
March
Year of the Dragon, FOE Gallery, 2012
2-person exhibition

Year of the Dragon

FOE Gallery · Northampton, MA
March
The Birds and The Bees, Adah Rose Gallery, 2012
2-person exhibit

The Birds and The Bees

Adah Rose Gallery · Kensington, MD
April
ARTOMATIC, 2012
group exhibition

ARTOMATIC

Crystal City, VA
May/June
Remastered, FOE Gallery, 2012
2-person exhibit

Remastered

FOE Gallery · Northampton, MA
October
Artpocalypse, The Dunes, 2012
group exhibition

Artpocalypse

The Dunes · Washington, DC
December
She Got Mather, Video, 2012
video

She Got Mather

Video
March
100 Artists of Washington, DC, 2012
book

100 Artists of Washington, DC

20118 entries

Midlife, Solo exhibit — Galeria Artevistas, 2011
solo exhibit

Midlife

Solo exhibit — Galeria Artevistas · Barcelona, Spain
April–May
Storytelling, Solo exhibit — ArtGallery, 2011
solo exhibit

Storytelling

Solo exhibit — ArtGallery · Norfolk, VA
November–December
Art of Dating, Solo exhibit — Tryst, 2011
solo exhibit

Art of Dating

Solo exhibit — Tryst · Washington, DC
Jan. 6 – Feb. 8
Dystopia, The Dunes, 2011
2-person exhibit

Dystopia

The Dunes · Washington, DC
December–January

20107 entries

milestone

Marries painter Matt Sesow

Long View Gallery · Washington, DC
Banned, Solo exhibit — MLK Library, 2010
solo exhibit

Banned

Solo exhibit — MLK Library · Washington, DC
June 20 – July 31
Till Death Do Us Part, Wedding & Exhibit — Long View Gallery, 2010
wedding & exhibit

Till Death Do Us Part

Wedding & Exhibit — Long View Gallery · Washington, DC
Feb. 5 – March 1, 2010
Express Newspaper, Interview/Article, 2010
press/interview

Express Newspaper

Interview/Article
July 30

200917 entries

milestone

International Blasphemy Day draws CNN, NPR, USA Today and AFP coverage

Center for Inquiry · Washington, DC
Divinely Irreverent, Solo Show — Evolve Urban Arts Center, 2009
solo exhibit

Divinely Irreverent

Solo Show — Evolve Urban Arts Center · Washington, DC
Opens Dec. 5, 4–7pm
Sequestered, Solo Show — R. Corey Fine Art Gallery, 2009
solo exhibit

Sequestered

Solo Show — R. Corey Fine Art Gallery · Savage, MD
Opens Oct. 16
Summer Splash, Mayer Fine Art, 2009
group exhibition

Summer Splash

Mayer Fine Art · Norfolk, VA
Opens Sept. 5
Ready Set DC, interview with Dana Ellyn, 2009
press/interview

Ready Set DC

interview with Dana Ellyn · Washington, DC

200819 entries

BrushFire, Gallery Plan B, 2008
group exhibition

BrushFire

Gallery Plan B · Washington, DC
Opens September 13, 2008
Made in China, Long View Gallery, 2008
2-person exhibit

Made in China

Long View Gallery · Washington, DC
2008
One Night Only, The GallAerie — Dana Ellyn & Matt Sesow, 2008
2-person exhibit

One Night Only

The GallAerie — Dana Ellyn & Matt Sesow · Washington, DC
June 14, 2008
Artomatic, 2008
group exhibition

Artomatic

Washington, DC
May–June
Falcon Flyer, Interview w/ Dana Ellyn, 2008
press/interview

Falcon Flyer

Interview w/ Dana Ellyn
March 2008

200719 entries

I Call Shenanigans, Long View Gallery — Solo Show, 2007
solo exhibit

I Call Shenanigans

Long View Gallery — Solo Show · Washington, DC
June 9–30
Britishink, 2007
solo exhibit

Britishink

Washington, DC
April–May 2007
Under the Influence, Aroma — paintings by Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow, 2007
2-person exhibit

Under the Influence

Aroma — paintings by Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow · Washington, DC
Opens December 6
Group Show, Gallery Plan B, 2007
group exhibition

Group Show

Gallery Plan B · Washington, DC
Opens December 1, 6–8pm
Group Show, Long View Gallery, 2007
group exhibition

Group Show

Long View Gallery · Washington, DC
Opens November 30, 5–8pm
Art Romp 20, Warehouse, 2007
group exhibition

Art Romp 20

Warehouse · Washington, DC
Opens September 7, 6pm–late
Go Figure!, Gallery Plan B, 2007
group exhibition

Go Figure!

Gallery Plan B · Washington, DC
Opens September 8, 6–8pm
Arts on Foot, 2007
festival/art event

Arts on Foot

Washington, DC
September 15, 11am–5pm
Art in Heat, Warehouse Gallery, 2007
group exhibition

Art in Heat

Warehouse Gallery · Washington, DC
June 30 – July 31
Artomatic, 2007
group exhibition

Artomatic

Crystal City, VA
April 13 – May 20
Opening Night, Splash Contemporary, 2007
group exhibition

Opening Night

Splash Contemporary · Asbury Park, NJ
March–May 2007
Bloodlines, Gallery RFD, 2007
group exhibition

Bloodlines

Gallery RFD · Swainsboro, GA
March 2007
Feature, Washington Post, 2007
press feature

Feature

Washington Post · Washington, DC
September 15, 2007
Washington Post, features Dana Ellyn's Painting classes, 2007
press feature

Washington Post

features Dana Ellyn's Painting classes
March 2, 2007

200615 entries

Now Art, Qbix Gallery, 2006
group exhibition

Now Art

Qbix Gallery · Philadelphia, PA
December 2006
Driven, Gallery Neptune, 2006
2-person exhibit

Driven

Gallery Neptune · Bethesda, MD
June 2006
Remastered, Studio One Eight, 2006
group exhibition

Remastered

Studio One Eight · Washington, DC
June 2006
Art of War, Studio One Eight, 2006
group exhibition

Art of War

Studio One Eight · Washington, DC
March 2006
Cupidity, Gallery Neptune, 2006
group exhibition

Cupidity

Gallery Neptune · Bethesda, MD
February 2006
Shock and Awe, Warehouse — "Puppetry", mentioned in Examiner, 2006
group exhibition

Shock and Awe

Warehouse — "Puppetry", mentioned in Examiner · Washington, DC
November 2006
Cat & Dog Show, Pamela Skinner Gallery, 2006
group exhibition

Cat & Dog Show

Pamela Skinner Gallery · Sacramento, CA
December 2006
24 Hour Mural, Capitol Fringe Festival, 2006
public art project

24 Hour Mural

Capitol Fringe Festival · Washington, DC
July 2006
Examiner Newspaper, Interview/Review — "Freak House Art" at Warehouse, 2006
press/interview

Examiner Newspaper

Interview/Review — "Freak House Art" at Warehouse · Washington, DC
October 28, 2006
Express Newspaper, Gallery Pick — "Freak House Art" at Warehouse, 2006
press mention

Express Newspaper

Gallery Pick — "Freak House Art" at Warehouse · Washington, DC
October 19, 2006

200511 entries

Date Night, Alcove Gallery, 2005
group exhibit

Date Night

Alcove Gallery · Atlanta, GA
October 2005
Voices, Edison Place Gallery, 2005
group exhibition

Voices

Edison Place Gallery · Washington, DC
September 2005

20048 entries

Anonymous, Flashpoint Gallery, 2004
group exhibition

Anonymous

Flashpoint Gallery · Washington, DC
April 2004
Artomatic, Washington, DC, 2004
group exhibition

Artomatic

Washington, DC
November 2004

200311 entries

milestone

Begins 31 Days in July — one painting a day, every day of the month

first year
Solo show, Rouge, 2003
solo exhibit

Solo show

Rouge · Washington, DC
January 2003
Curious, Washington, DC, 2003
group exhibition

Curious

Washington, DC
December 2003
B-Side, Washington, DC, 2003
group exhibition

B-Side

Washington, DC · at DCCD
September 2003
Love & Eroticism, Khoja Gallery, 2003
group exhibition

Love & Eroticism

Khoja Gallery · Arlington, VA
February 2003
TV Appearance, Larz from Marz, 2003
TV appearance

TV Appearance

Larz from Marz
July 2003

20028 entries

milestone

Leaves the law firm to paint full time

Washington, DC
Nudes, NZen, 2002
solo exhibit

Nudes

NZen · Washington, DC
November 2002
LadyFest DC, DCAC, 2002
group exhibition

LadyFest DC

DCAC · Washington, DC
August 2002
Artomatic, Waterside Mall, 2002
group exhibition

Artomatic

Waterside Mall · Washington, DC
November 2002
Art Market, American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM), 2002
art market

Art Market

American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) · Baltimore, MD
June 2002

19922 entries

milestone

BA, Fine Arts and Art History

The George Washington University · Washington, DC
milestone

Paints nights and weekends while working a law-firm job

Washington, DC

19891 entry

milestone

Moves to Washington, DC

The George Washington University · Washington, DC

19781 entry

milestone

Childhood years in Connecticut

19711 entry

milestone

Born in Brooklyn, New York

For press & galleries

Copy, paste, publish

Short bio — 50 words

Dana Ellyn (b. 1971, Brooklyn, New York) is a contemporary figurative painter based in Washington, DC. Since going full time in 2002 she has sold more than 4,500 original paintings directly to collectors around the world, without gallery representation. She holds a BA in Fine Arts and Art History from George Washington University.

Full bio — 110 words

Dana Ellyn is a contemporary figurative painter based in Washington, DC. Since going full-time in 2002, she has sold over 4,500 original paintings to collectors around the world. Formally trained, she holds a BA in Fine Arts and Art History from George Washington University (1992). Her work has been exhibited at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD (2016–2017), the St. Petersburg Museum of Art in Russia (2018–2019), and the American University Art Museum in Washington, DC (2025), and featured by CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, and Agence France-Presse. She has shown in galleries across the United States and internationally, including Spain, Australia, France, and Ukraine. New work is added several times a week at new.danaellyn.com.

✉ dana@danaellyn.com Text 202-600-8767 About & full bio → New paintings → Press archive by year → Projects & series → Instagram → Facebook →

About this archive

What it is and where it comes from

This page is a running record of one painter's working life — every exhibition, article, interview, project and milestone documented so far, from birth in 1971 to the show that opens next month. It is kept because a career like this one is built out of hundreds of small events, and almost none of them get written down anywhere permanent.

Entries are drawn from the year-by-year press archive at press.danaellyn.com, along with exhibition postcards, gallery announcements, magazine clippings and photographs kept since 2002. New entries are added as they happen, and older ones are added as material surfaces — the archive is not finished and is not meant to be.

Categories. Solo — solo exhibitions. Group — group and two-person shows, museum exhibitions, art fairs, festivals and benefit auctions. Press — articles, interviews, reviews, podcasts, books, magazines and calendars. Projects — painted series, public art, installations, live painting and residencies. Milestones — career-defining moments and biographical facts.