about
Chelsea Ellis (b. 1987, Maine) is a photographic artist who lives and works in Rockland, Maine. She earned her BA in Photography from the University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME in 2012. Ellis has exhibited in a number of group exhibitions in Maine, including the House Support Itself exhibition by Lights Out Gallery and Fort Hall in Brunswick (2024), Chelsea Ellis and Todd Watts exhibition at the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland (2023), Made Not Taken exhibition at the Gascoine Gallery in Monson (2022), and No Time exhibition at Ticonic Gallery in Waterville (2022). Ellis has had her work reviewed in the Portland Press Herald and Artscope Magazine.
artist statement
In my photographic work, I use my body and paint to create composite images of humanoid forms that blur the boundaries between the familiar and unfamiliar, investigating structures of the human body and posing the questions: Who are we? What are we?
Instagram: @heychellisea
exhibitions
group exhibitions
2024 — ARTPM 2024, Buoy Gallery, Kittery ME
2024 — the House Support Itself, Lights Out Gallery and Fort Hall Gallery, Brunswick ME
2023 — Chelsea Ellis and Todd Watts, Maine Museum of Photographic Arts, Portland ME
2022 — Made Not Taken, Gascoine Gallery, Monson ME
2022 — No Time, Ticonic Gallery, Waterville ME
2022 — ARTPM 2022 YEAR 13, Buoy Gallery, Kittery ME
2020 — Community Quilt, Circling the Square Fine Art Press, Gardiner ME
2019 — A Possible Practice, Cong Tu Bot, Portland ME
2018 — In This Skin, Akari, Portland ME
solo exhibition
2019 — Catharsis, Coworkhers, Portland ME
juried exhibition
2018 — Art2018, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell ME
commission
2022 — SPACE Gallery, The Perceiver and The Perceived, polyester flag (3‛x5‛)
residency
2021 — Abbott Watts Residency for Photography, Monson ME
reviews
2024 — Arango, Jorge, Exhibition review, Brunswick show explores how art connects creative couples: Discover the cross-currents and influences in pieces by life partners displayed together at Fort Hall Gallery. Portland Press Herald (11 February). pressherald.com
2023 — Arango, Jorge, Exhibition review, See the color-saturated work of two photographers who push boundaries: 'Chelsea Ellis and Todd Watts' is showing at Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland. Portland Press Herald (10 September). pressherald.com
2023 — Sutherland, Linda, Exhibition review, Hell Bent to Kick the Edges: Chelsea Ellis and Todd Watts at MMPA Portland. Artscope Magazine (28 August). artscopemagazine.com
publications
2020 — “Etymologies,” A Possible Practice 1 (January)
2019 — “Liminal,” Detritus 4 (June)
education
2012 — BA, Photography, University of Southern Maine