Ted Ellis

African-American history Free At Last depicts several themes from African-American history. In 2009, Ellis produced an exhibit focusing on the theme of African-American history in light of slavery and emancipation. The exhibit, American Slavery: The Reason Why We're Here, tied into the Juneteenth commemoration of slavery's abolition in the State of Texas. It was located at and included tours of the historic residence of horticulturist Henry Stringfellow, an innovator in organic gardening who was enlightened in how he employed of freedmen. Ellis began the series of works at a 2006 exhibition at the same house.

The exhibit's more than 20 paintings were painted with brush and fingers, and Ellis sometimes added a collage of documents. The exhibit included images of the transportation of slaves, the industry of slavery in crop production, and the abolition of slavery.

Ellis has been pictorially documenting African-American lifestyle, history and culture for thirty years. Ellis paintings are in the permanent collection of the DuSable museum, Charles Wright museum, the McKenna museum, Free People of Color Museum, and the Amistad Research Center. The City of Selma, Alabama, commissioned Ellis as the official artist for the 50th anniversary for the civil rights march, known as "Bloody Sunday". President George W. Bush and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi stand amidst 300 Tuskegee Airmen during a photo opportunity Thursday, March 29, 2007, in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. White House.

Educational work Ellis views education as one of his primary missions, and he is involved with several educational initiatives. and joining with his wife Erania to illustrate while she reads aloud to children from books about topics like the Buffalo Soldiers. When working with children with autism, he employs a strategy of engaging the children's creativity in a non-judgemental setting where there is no wrong way for them to express themselves; he hopes to put their art on display at the Houston Children's Museum. Ambassadors for Art also took part in painting a bust of US President Barack Obama. The bust was one of 45 painted by artists nationwide which were displayed in Detroit's Museum of African American History, part of a project supported by the Smithsonian Institution.

He has also worked with other arts education programs like the Peoria Public Schools' "Artreach", in the framework of which he donated five original pieces to the schools and District 150 Foundation.

Since October 2023, Ellis has been the Director of Florida State University's Civil Rights Institute. Which works to connect with students and promote the legacy of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The institute collaborates with numerous departments and organizations within FSU and throughout Florida in order to preserve the oral traditions of previously underrepresented people(s), working to promote racial equity in local communities.

Style Sunday Worship is Ellis' most popular work and personal favorite. Ellis has over his career created art in a number of styles and has incorporated several primary influences.

African American history and African American culture play central roles in Ellis' art, which regularly feature themes like Buffalo Soldiers, cotton fields, and Jazz music; He draws inspiration from people's memories of family or from history, and says that he's "a history buff at heart. I read a lot, and I have more books than paint."

As an artist who focuses on African American history, Ellis intentionally does not approach its difficult chapters from a position of pain: "I have to be careful what I do [...] there's a power to art. I don't want to be from an angry position. That's out there, and maybe they do that to shake you up and make you think. I want to be one step ahead. When you're talking about healing, you're in the right zone." As such, his images of slavery and historical Southern life focus on positive values such as family, character, and church.

Ellis attributes a love for and influence in his art to New Orleans and the city's creative culture. He compared the city to an incubator for young talent. Ellis accredits the city as offering him art clubs and opportunities to design murals for school and create signs for special events, as well as access to art classes, summer art programs, and the vibrant Jackson Square where he could talk with and get to know many artists. The 1993 exhibit, Realism, Symbolism, and Abstraction: Images from the African American Experience, jointly featured artist Albert M. Shaw.

Ellis was selected to creation of Walt Disney World 1998 commemorative Black History Poster. Other than that, he was official artist for the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday for the city of Selma, Alabama. Ted was Art ambassador for the City and County of Galveston, TX celebrating 150th anniversary of Juneteenth showcasing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.

The Ivory Coast II was featured on children's television show Barney & Friends. In 1997 his African-Americans in Law was unveiled and displayed in New Orleans City Hall.

Ellis was the Heritage Arts Festival's winner of the Pallette Award for Impressionism in 2002

Ellis featured in a Houston City Council meeting chaired by mayor Bill White where council member Sue Lovell declared May 23, 2006 "Ted Ellis Day", citing Ellis' contributions as a leading African American contemporary artist who in his art captures American culture. The Austin, Texas-based George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in 2006 hosted Ellis' exhibition, Say My Name.

In 2007, Ellis' work was exhibited at "Embrace: the Fine Art Fair of the National Black Arts Festival".

In 2010, New Orleans African American Museum recognized Ellis as an Art Ambassador and hosted an exhibition of his work, "Sumpt'n to See, Native Son Comes Home".

Ellis has been recognized in proclamations by Governor of Texas Rick Perry, Texas State Representative Sylvester Turner, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, as well as Baton Rouge mayor Melvin Holden.

Louisiana State Senate resolution number 88, brought by Senator Karen Carter Peterson in 2012, also commends and recognizes Ellis for his accomplishments and contributions.

He has been featured at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, won Grand Prize Best of Show and Patrons Award at Fairhope, Alabama's Fairhope Arts Festival, and was honored as the "Official Artist" of the 2006 Essence Music Festival. He was also featured at the Bayou City Art Festival and the Charleston Annual Fine Arts Weekend in 2005.

Ellis is a frequent speaker at Avon President's Luncheon and other corporate functions.

He says African-American are still not within the mainstream, and despite being the most financially minded black artists yet, that the current generation still earns less than it should. Ellis further assigns partial responsibility on an academic world that he sees as not paying sufficient attention to the genre.

He believes strongly that African-Americans should value their art on their terms, looking past aesthetics, and that only thus will the genre grow and be better appreciated.

Featured as Cover Art Go Down Old Hannah: the Living History of African American Texans Naomi Mitchell Carrier They Dance Alone Christine LeVeaux (2005) Harlem Renaissance by Ella O. Williams National Medical Association journal covers Summer 2007, Volume 99, Number 12 December 2008, Volume 100, Number 12 January 2010, Volume 102, Number 1 National Directory of African American Organizations 2001–2003 Philip Morris Co. (Keep the Dream Alive) Worship in the House was commissioned by Integrity Music to be used as a CD cover. Beyond the Blues: Reflections of African America in the Fine Arts Collection of the Amistad Research Center (The Struggle Continues) 2006 South Central Region Jack and Jill of America cookbook The Ensemble Theatre's 2008 production of Radio Golf playbill cover.

Works Gallery

Art Series Champions of justice- 1996 Justice: Collection of Artwork inspired by the Legal Profession – New Orleans City Hall, 1999 Capturing Our Heritage – University of Texas Medical Branch Moody Medical Library, Galveston, 2001 Born in the Spirit – Penn State Harrisburg Library, 2003 Katrina: The Hope, Healing and Rebirth of New Orleans – National Bar Association, 2005 Courage of Conviction: African Americans Serving in the Military from Colonial Time to the President of the U.S. – Stone Mountain Park, 2008/09 American Slavery: The Reason Why We Are Here – The Beach Institute, Savannah, Georgia 2009 Sumptin' to See: Native Son Comes Home – New Orleans African American Museum 2010 Our History, Heritage and Culture: An American Story, the art of Ted Ellis – Rosa Parks Museum 2010 Medicine and Art: Telling Our Story, Yale School of Medicine