Paintings by Rose are classically inspired, with a modern flair.
Rose Ellis [American, 1959-] says “English is not my first language, art is. I finally found my inner, playful voice while we were all locked up and alone.” Rose has made a whole new narrative using folded paper and found objects as a springboard. Her figures are imaginatively combined to create “stories.” Colorful, whimsical, realistic still lifes that are anything but still. Rose attended Kendall School of Art and Design but earned her studio art degree from the University of Michigan. She plays with her oil paints in her home studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her cats, Mucha and Monet supervise closely
Rose’s Artistic Statement
The first time I folded an origami dog in my studio, I realized the potential of the stories I could tell. While I would classify my paintings as still lifes, they are anything but still. Some authors know what their stories are going to be before they begin writing, I find that my stories fall into place as they unfold. My creations are meant to be full of whimsy and joy. They inspire my imagination and I hope they do for the viewer as well.
Juried Shows & Solo Exhibitions
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2025
Saugatuck Art Traders Gallery, Saugatuck, Michigan (Two person Show) 2025
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2024
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Show) 2023
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2023
Muskegon Museum of Art 93rd MI Contemporary Ex (Group Shows) 2022
NOAPS Associate Member on-line group Exhibit 2022
NOAPS Spring International on-line Exhibit 2022
Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Show) 2022
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2022
NOAPS International on-line exhibit 2021
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2021
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Show) 2020
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, MI (Group Show) 2020 Best of Show
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Show) 2019
West Michigan Arts Competition, Lowell, Michigan (Group Shows)2019
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2019
Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Show) 2019
Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts (Group Show) 2019 Best of Show
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2019
West Michigan Arts Competition, Lowell, Michigan (Group Shows) 2018
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2018
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan(Group Shows) 2018
Mercy Health St. Mary's Gallery (solo show) 2018
West Michigan Arts Competition, Lowell, Michigan (Group Shows) 2018
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2017
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows) 2017
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2017
Synchronicity Art Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan (Group Shows) 2016
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows), 2016
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2016
“A Burst of Bubbles” (solo show) Artworks, Big Rapids, Michigan 2016
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2016
Button/Petter Gallery, Douglas, Michigan (Group Shows) 2015
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows) 2015
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2015
Button/Petter Gallery, Douglas, Michigan (Group Shows) 2014
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows) 2014
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2015
Button/Petter Gallery, Douglas, Michigan (Group Shows) 2014
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows) 2014
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2014
Cascade Gallery, Ada, Michigan (Group Shows) 2013
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2013
Richard App Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan (2-person show) 2012
Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida (juried natl. group show) 2012
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2012
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids 2012
Windsor Arts Center, Windsor, NY (National Juried Small Works Show) 2011
Richard Low Evans Gallery, Blue Ridge, GA (juried natl. group show)2011
Foster Tanner Fine Arts, Tallahassee (juried natl. group show) 2011
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2011
Cape Fear Studios, Fayetteville (natl. group show) 2011 Best of Show
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2010
“ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 2009
West Michigan Arts Competition, Lowell, Michigan (Group Shows) 2008
“Echoes of Classicism” (juried group show), Calder Gallery, Grand Valley State University 2006
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2003
Michigan All-Media State Competition, Lansing 2002
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2000
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1997
Gallery Arcadia, Grand Rapids, 2-person show 1997
Desert Art Source, Palm Desert, California (Group shows) 1996
Gallery Arcadia, Grand Rapids, (Group Shows) 1996
Desert Art Source, Palm Desert, California (Group shows) 1996
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 1996 award
Desert Art Source, Palm Desert, California (Group shows) 1995
Muskegon Regional Arts Show, Muskegon, Michigan (Group Shows) 1995
Shibui Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Solo show) 1995
On-The-Town magazine cover, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1995
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 1994
Atrium Gallery, South Haven, Michigan (Solo show) 1994
West Michigan Arts Competition, Lowell, Michigan (Group Shows) 1993 Best 2-D
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 1993
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 1992 Award
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Group Shows) 1991
Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids, one-woman-show (1989)
ADDY Awards of Michigan 1977 Best of Show
Installations
“Floating Up the River” installation, River House, Grand Rapids (2019)
“Positano” (painting-installation), private collection (2009)
“Tennis Pavillion” (4-painting-installation), private collection (2007)
“Renaissance Garden” (8 painting-installation), private collection (2006)
“Artemesia” (sculpture installation), private collection (2005)
“Venus” (2005) (private collection)
“French Suite,” Cook-DeWitt Center for Health Services, GVSU (2003)
“Lubbers Legacy” installation, Grand Valley State University (2001)
“Age of Discovery” installation, Pew Campus, GVSU (2000)
“Native Peoples” installation, Grand Valley State University (1998)
“Carnegie Hall” installation, Grand Valley State University (1998)
“Chicago Lyric Opera” installation, Grand Valley State University (1998)
“The Woods” installation, Prince Manufacturing (1978)
Selected Private & Public Collections
Grand Valley State University | Allendale MI
Pamella DeVos, Vice-Chair, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Honorable Hiroshi Koizumi, President, Toyama Cultural Association, Japan
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Betsy DeVos, FormerSecretary of Education, United States of America
Grand Valley State University, Multiple campuses, Michigan
Mercy Health, Michigan
Warner, Norcross & Judd, L.L.P
Richard DeVos, Founder, Amway Corporation
William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Spectrum Health, Michigan
Hascall Steel Inc., Michigan