Ron Merchant
                                                                                    ron.merchant@att.net
                                                                                   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419
                                                                                   612-929-9443

                                                                                   

                            Artist Statement















Artist Resume       

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ron decided early on to pursue the arts. First as a
professional musician and now as a full-time artist, he is a lifelong student studying in
museums and galleries around the world. In addition to numerous workshops, he has studied
at the University of Minnesota and the Edina, Paramount St. Cloud, and Minnetonka
Centers for the Arts where he has taught Impressionism. He now specializes in figurative
cityscapes and plein air landscapes.

Currently gallery director at the Robbin Gallery, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, he also teaches
oil painting through the St. Louis Park Lenox Center, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, the
Minnetonka Center for the Arts and his studio in south Minneapolis.

Merchant has exhibited internationally and has won numerous awards including top honors.
His twenty piece collection, "Exploring the World, Treasuring the Revelations", was a jury
selected feature in the Walker Art Center's "5 Minutes of Fame" webcast.

Grants:

2005
          Artist Initiative Grant Program Award, Minnesota State Arts Board,
                   National Endowment for the Arts
          Project Title:      Born by the River, People of the Mississippi River Towns

Awards:

2006
          Three Trees                          Honorable Mention, Whiz Bang Show
          Tall Tales                             Award of Excellence, March Madness Juried Show
                                                       Award of Excellence, Hopkins Center for the Arts

2005
          On 7th Street                        Honorable Mention, Extremely Minnesota Exhibition
          Done Shopping                    Excellence Award, Northern Showcase
          Dog Walking Mears Park       Award of Excellence, Edina Art Center Juried Show
          On 7th Street                        Award of Excellence, Edina Art Center Juried Show
          Not Quite There Yet             Honorable Mention, Hopkins Center Juried Show
          Crossing Irvine                      Best of Show, Mid-Summer Member Show
          Steve & Doug: Winona, MN
                                                       Honorable Mention, Mid-Summer Member Show        
          Ruby Slippers                       Award of Merit, Artists Del Norte Juried Show
          Done Shopping                    Best of Show, Hopkins Center for the Arts
          He Walks Alone                     Honorable Mention, Robbin Gallery Member Show
          Break Time                           Best of Show, Robbin Gallery Member Show
          By the Stream                       Honorable Mention, Robbin Gallery Member show

2004
    Green Light                           Second Award, 93rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibition,
                                                       Minnesota State Fair
    Like Ships in the Night          Best of Show, First Annual Northern Showcase
    Currie’s Trail                          Award of Excellence, Extremely Minnesota Exhibition
    Peaceful Foothills                 Award of Excellence, March Madness Juried Show
    Done Shopping                     Honorable Mention, March Madness Juried Show
                                                  Award of Excellence, Plymouth Primavera Arts
                                                  Honorable Mention, Bloomington Center for the Arts
    Window Shopping,                Award of Merit, Arts in Harmony National Exhibition

2003
    Window Shopping                 People's Choice Award, Hopkins Center for the Arts
    Nicollet Mall Market              Honorable Mention, Minnesota Artist Association
    Morning Manhattan              Special Merit Award, Robbin Gallery Member Show
    Window Shopping                 Best of Show, Robbin Gallery Juried Member Show
    Just a Handful                       Honorable Mention, Robbin Gallery Member Show
    On Time, On Target              Award of Excellence, Edina Juried Members Show

2002, 2003
    Exploring the World, Treasuring the Revelations,
    20 piece jury selected feature,
                            Walker Art Center's "5 Minutes of Fame" webcast
Major Shows:                                                                                        

2006
          "Born by the River: People of the Mississippi River Towns"
                        one-man traveling exhibition. Multiple locations.
          "Connections" one-man show, Greater Minneapolis Visitors & Convention Assn.
2005
          Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, one-man show, Minneapolis, MN
          “Connections” two person exhibit, Robbin Gallery
          “City Seen”, Minneapolis Foundation featured artist
          Robbinsdale City Hall one-man exhibition
2004
    Metropolitan Council, St. Paul
    Robbin Gallery, "In the Stream", new works one-man show
    Jean Stephen Galleries, Nicollet Mall Series
    Brooklyn Park Library, "Another Year in Pieces", one-man show
    Robbinsdale Police and Fire Administration one-man show
2003
    Maple Grove Library, "A Year in Pieces II", one-man show
    Rockford Road Library, "A Year in Pieces", one-man show
    Into the Mystic Gallery, "World Viewed", one-man show
    Robbin Gallery, "Faces and Places, paintings by Ron Merchant",
            64 piece one-man show
2002
    Walker Art Center "5 Minutes of Fame" webcast

Publications:

           St. Paul Pioneer Press, Best of This Week, Visual Art, Born by the River, 5/7/2006
          MnSun, Robbin Gallery Exhibit, 5/17/2006
          Star Tribune, Art Spotlight: Water's Edge, 5/5/2006
          TwinCities.com, Best Bets, Visual Art: Born by the River, 5/3/2006
          Southwest Journal, Art Notes, A River Runs Through Him, 4/24/2006
          MnArtists.org, A River Journey: Ron Merchant, 6/7/2006
          Red Wing Republican Eagle, Book, Paintings of Red Wing Featured, 6/24/2006
          Red Wing Republican Eagle, Merchant, Ciccone share books with public, 6/28/06
          Applause: Arts & Entertainment of the River Region, Red Wing part of traveling art
                 tour in July, July, 2006   
          Born by the River: People of the Mississippi River Towns,
                 Limner Fine Publishing, 2006
          Winona Daily News, 6/18/2005
          St. Cloud Times, 7/14/2005
          Red Wing Republican Eagle, 6/23/2005
          Elk River Star News, 8/10/2005, 8/24/2005, 11/12/2005
          Minneapolis Observer, Career Change, September, 2005
Ron Merchant                Biography
This page requires
JavaScript to
display properly.
This page requires
JavaScript to
display properly.
This page requires
JavaScript to
display properly.
I use oil paint to share my view of the world. Creating what others may not see, I strive to
express what the people in my paintings feel. Warmth, isolation, connectedness: each is
unique but shares common needs and desires. People from all backgrounds share a
sidewalk or a bus stop. Some are young, some old: all are human. Our humanity
connects us.

I spend many hours observing people. In good weather, I paint quickly and take
reference photos so that I can finish back in the studio if necessary. During the long
winter months, I work on composing larger scale paintings and making plans for the next
year.

A sunny day brings me out to appreciate the variety, vitality and joy of life. The smell of
hot pavement, the sound of laughter and traffic. Come share it with me.
Biography