I’m Ell Treese (they/them), intuitive painter, queer editorial photographer, tarot reader and educator with a deep passion for healing through creativity. I’m originally from Dayton, OH and I graduated with BFA in painting from VCUarts in Richmond, VA in 2020 and moved to San Diego, CA late that year. In June 2025, I moved to Minneapolis, MN and I’m currently a first year Visual Arts MFA candidate at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD).
I am an interdisciplinary artist and I use different mediums to create new worlds that reflect our reality and other dimensions of time and space. My painting style is deeply intuitive and uses abstraction, still life and surrealist elements to capture energy. My eye for photography is informed by my painting degree and my observant spirit. I notice the little things and I’m always pointing them out in life and my work. My style of photography highlights queer joy, authenticity and natural lighting and scenery.
I am a curious human, always wanting to explore what is peaking my interests and when teaching, I implore my students to follow where their curiosity leads them. In my tarot readings, I aim to help my clients rediscover their creative potential, to trust their intuition and listen to their bodies.
About The Artist
CV
Education
2026 First year Visual Arts MFA candidate at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN
2020 BFA Painting and Printmaking, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Awards
2026 Merit Scholarship, awarded by admittance committee of MCAD MFA in Visual Arts program
2018 Most Outstanding Sophomore, awarded by the faculty of VCUarts Painting and Printmaking Department
Experience
2026 Offered painting commission for the We Take Care of Us mutual aid auction for community effected by Operation Metro Surge
2025-2026 Fine Art Production Gallery Wrapping, White House Custom Color, Eagan, MN
2023-2025 Teaching Artist, A Reason To Survive, National City, CA
2024 Collaborated on a mural for A Reason To Survive headquarters, National City, CA
2022-2024 Tabling at various art markets and events, San Diego, CA
2023 Designed and painted a mural for City Tacos on Voltaire st, Ocean Beach, CA
2020-2023 Studio Artist, The Studio Door Gallery, San Diego, CA
2022 Created 6-week workshop on intuitive sketchbook creation, San Diego, CA
2022 Jury selected artist, La Jolla Art and Wine Festival, San Diego, CA
2022 Featured Artist, Art of Pride, San Diego, CA
2022 Created workshop “The Healing Energy of Abstraction”, She Fest, San Diego, CA
Group Shows:
2026 Mutual Aid is for Lovers, Curated apartment art show in the Whittier neighborhood, Minneapolis, MN
2024 Dreamscape, San Diego Mesa College Gallery, San Diego, CA
2024 Shared Memories, A Reason To Survive, National City, CA
2021 Magic, Witchcraft & Tarot, The Studio Door, San Diego, CA
2021 Obsessed, Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA
2020 Kiss Goodbye, Senior Thesis Exhibition Virtual Gallery, Richmond, VA
2019 The Red Show, Denver, CO
2019 Shades of Lavender, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA
2019 v.Squirrel, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA
2018 So-Called, Fine Arts Building, Richmond, VA
2018 Sixty Seven, Glogauair Artist Residency, Berlin, Germany
2018 A Strong Line, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA, Doha, Qatar
Media/Publications
Canvas Rebel Interview, April 2023 https://canvasrebel.com/meet-ell-treese/
Shout Out SoCal Local Artist and Creative Interview, August 2022https://shoutoutsocal.com/meet-ell-treese-intuitive-artist/
Hillcrest Walk in Art news story, March 2021https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/the-scene/hillcrest-hopes-to-boost-pandemic-economy-with-first-thursday-art-walk-in-mural-alley/2566147/?amp
Artist Profile in the LGBTQ San Diego County Newspaper, February 2021https://lgbtqsd.news/artist-profile-ell-treese/