Dana Ellyn

Dana Ellyn
Occupation	Artist

Dana Ellyn is a vegan artist who incorporates political and animal cruelty themes in her work. In 2008, Ellyn created paintings of every American President, as well as each of the 2008 Presidential candidates. ^[1]

From May 2016 to May 2017, her portrait of artist (and husband) Matt Sesow was the introductory painting to Sesow's 'Shock & Awe' exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.^{[ citation needed ]}

From December 2018 to March 2019, her painting 'Baby Back Ribs' was exhibited in the 'Grotesque in Art' exhibit at the Museum of Art St. Petersburg in St Petersburg Russia.^{[ citation needed ]}

Her controversial 2009 Blasphemy Day show received coverage by CNN, USA Today , Huffington Post and NPR. ^[2] She paints from Mather Studios in downtown Washington, DC.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2025 her work was included in the exhibition Women Artists of the DMV: A Survey Exhibition at the American University Museum. ^[3]

Education

Ellyn earned a BA degree from The George Washington University. ^[4]

References

1. Saslow, Rachel (18 January 2009). "Washington Post interview with Dana Ellyn - January 2009". www.danaellyn.com. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
2. "A Bitter Rift Divides Atheists". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
3. "Women Artists of the DMV: A Survey Exhibition". American University. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
4. ""Defiled": Dana Ellyn, Matt Sesow, and the Recent Vocabulary of Popular Politics - University of Massachusetts Boston". www.umb.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-03-05.