Ellen Colcord, Painter / Designer

Ellen Colcord’s formal art studies began at The Art Students League in New York City and Stony Brook University on Long Island where she received a BA in Painting, Philosophy and Writing and a BFA in Fine Arts. Awarded a URECA research grant in 1989, she researched Sienese Religious icons (12th and 13th century) at the Pinacoteca Museum in Siena Italy. The following year she was accepted and studied in a Master’s Program at the Academia di Belle Arte in Urbino, Italy.

While in Italy, Colcord began an intense study of icons, particularly those of the proto-Renaissance period, (12th to 14th century). Impassioned by ancient sacred images, she began a series of paintings and assemblages. The images reconstructed again and again became a theme and fire for her work. Fifteen years later, Colcord continues to focus on the mystical, theological and spiritual in her paintings. From 1997-2000 she attended Yale University’s Graduate School focusing on Painting and Religion. Colcord says, “The intrinsic spiritual values of all religions is what interests me. I hope to reveal divine presence in my own painting.”

Education:

2007 Master of Arts New York University, Fine Arts
1999 Master of Art & Religion Yale University, New Haven CT. Painting and Religion
1992 Accademia di Belle Arti, Urbino Italy, Masters Program, Painting
1990 Bachelor of Fine Arts Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. Cum Laude
1981-1984 Arts Students League, Painting (Rudolf Baranik)