Joey Foster Ellis

Joey Foster Ellis (born August 27, 1984) is a functional artist and craftsman and a native of Auburn, New York who received his BFA from Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 2009, becoming its first American graduate. His work has been exhibited extensively throughout Asia and North America and can be found in numerous private collections including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former United States President George W. Bush. He has received several site-specific commissions, including Greenpeace, Bank of America, Chevron and Manulife and his work has been featured in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time and Newsweek. Ellis is a recipient of the 2010 TEDGlobal Fellowship and was selected by The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum as one of 40 Under 40, a major exhibition highlighting the work of forty artists born since 1972.

Education and background

Joey Ellis began his art career while he was a high school student at the Putney School in Putney, Vermont. Upon graduating in 2004, Ellis attended Alfred University to begin working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts. During his studies at Alfred University, his professor told him, "Joey, you're going to China.", and Ellis found himself in Beijing two weeks later. He became the first American to graduate from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2009.

He is currently working towards a Master of Science in Conservation Studies with the University College London in Doha, Qatar where he currently resides. His second commissioned project, "100 Ice Children", was an ice installation publicly displayed in Ditan Park, Beijing. 41st United States President George W. Bush Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton United Nations Climate Change Center, Bonn Germany Chevron Manulife Greenpeace K&L Gates, Hong Kong

Awards 2012 selected artist for the Renwick Gallery's "40 Under 40: Craft Features" Exhibition 2010 TEDGlobal Fellow