Ellen Ramsey
NWDC is pleased to share the art and ideas of Ellen Ramsey
Ellen Ramsey (b. 1960, USA) weaves tapestries that explore personal and societal transformation. She earned an MA in Art History, with a studio concentration in photography, from the University of Iowa. Ramsey shows her work widely in national and international exhibitions. She has shown in exhibitions at the Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA; Ceres Gallery, New York, NY; Morley Gallery, London, UK; Szombathely Gallery, Szombathely, Hungary; the Strohl Art Center, Chautauqua, NY; and The Vestibule, Seattle, WA; among others. Ramsey has been recognized for excellence in her field with notable awards, including the 2019 Heallreaf Prize (UK). Ramsey is a juried member of Northwest Designer Craftartists. She lives and works in Seattle, Washington.
How were you introduced to art?
My mother was very interested in art. She was always taking classes of one kind or another at the local art center, and she would enroll me in youth classes there every summer. She was a docent at the art museum and she took me there to see all the exhibitions. So I fell in love with the visual arts at an early age, and it lead me to study art and art history in college.
Where do you find inspiration when creating new work?
Conceptually speaking, I am inspired by books and podcasts that explore the intersection of science, technology, and history. Visually speaking, I am inspired by artworks that I see in museums, galleries, and on social media – especially textile art, but paintings and mixed media work too.
Ellen Ramsey, Portal to the Metaverse, 2022, mixed fibers, 68 x 77 inches. | Ellen Ramsey, DALL-E 07.51.35. 2024, (detail) mixed fibers, 32 x 32 inches.
What do you consider your greatest artistic achievement?
That I am working as an artist at all kind of amazes me, to be honest.
What is the quality you most like in an artist?
A “what if” mentality (curiosity), especially in combination with a “yes, and” mentality (fearlessness).
Which living artist do you most admire?
Olga D’Amaral. Her boundless creativity and innovative approach to textiles is really quite mind blowing.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Reduce my introversion and social anxiety so networking would be easier.
What is your most treasured possession?
My loom. It is maybe the one physical ‘thing’ I would truly dread living without, at least right now.
Who has had a significant influence over your work?
NWDC member Mary Lane is the person who taught me everything I know about the craft of tapestry weaving. If I had never met Mary, there is a pretty good chance that I would not be a practicing artist today. She opened my eyes to the potential of the medium.
Ellen Ramsey, Binary Echoes, 2025, mixed fibers, 42 x 24 inches | Ellen Ramsey, Incapacitator, 2024, electrical wire, copper metallic and video tape, 5 x 5 inches.
How has your studio practice changed?
For 20 years, I just made work that I wanted to have for myself, hanging in my own house. I had no avenue for selling my work, so my “audience” was basically just me. The work was quite introspective and full of personal meaning. But since 2020 I have been making work that is outward focused -- work that expresses how I feel about societal changes. I now view my audience as the public, and I actively work to place my work in collections. I don’t really want it all for myself anymore!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being in excellent health, having no shortage of creative ideas, and having the time and capacity to explore them.
