Dana Ellyn

Dana Ellyn
Occupation	Artist

Dana Ellyn is an American 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.