ELLEN COOPER
Ellen Cooper is a professional portrait artist whose commissioned works honor distinguished leaders in the judicial, medical, academic, philanthropic, corporate and governmental spheres. She strives to create a timeless, individualized portrait and to make the experience enjoyable and rewarding for everyone involved. Getting to know the subject is essential, ensuring the final work reflects their personality, character and legacy.
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Early conversations focus on the client/subject’s goals for the painting, including size, setting, lighting, clothing and the overall mood. The first in-person meeting between the subject and Ms. Cooper includes a tour of potential locations to determine the ideal setting. During this visit, she may make quick sketches and take reference photographs to begin shaping the portrait’s concept and composition.
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If the portrait will be based on photographs, a dedicated photography session follows to refine pose, expression and composition. A second session is often scheduled for Ms. Cooper to paint a small head-and-shoulders color study in oil. For portraits painted from life, sittings are scheduled at mutually convenient times.
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Following these initial meetings, she will send a small preliminary paint sketch showing the proposed pose, composition, lighting and color. This sketch is shared with the client/subject for the consent to move forward. Upon completion of the portrait, Ms. Cooper sends a digital image for final approval before shipping.
Dean Duke University School of Nursing Durham, NC 2025
Dean and President Albany Law School Albany, NY 2024
Board Chair University of Rochester NY 2015
Dean Duke University School of Nursing Durham, NC 2025
Guided by a passionate love of painting, Ellen Cooper approaches every subject with a discerning eye and impeccable draftsmanship. Yet it is her command of paint, color, form and light—combined with an ability to perceive the character of her subjects—that elevates her work beyond faithful likenesses. Her portraits convey a sense of living truth, capturing not only appearance but essence.
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Ms. Cooper holds a BFA from Tyler School of Art and an MFA from Temple University (both in Philadephia.) Her commitment to mastery led her to study with leading contemporary portrait painters, a pursuit that has enriched her deep understanding of the genre. She now shares this knowledge with her own students, continuing the tradition of excellence in portraiture.
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Ms. Cooper's paintings appear in collections across the country and have earned more than 20 national and international awards, including First Place and People’s Choice in the Portrait Society of America’s International Competition. Her artistry has been featured in publications such as International Artist, The Art of the Portrait and American Art Collector.
SELECTED COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Albany Law School, Albany, NY
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA
Association of American Universities, Washington, D.C.
Baylor Law School, Waco, TX
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Court of Appeals of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, PA
Duke University School of Nursing
Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
FibroGen, CA
Foundation for the Carolinas
Fulton Bank, Lancaster, PA
Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Kentucky Supreme Court, Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfurt, Kentucky
LeTourneau University, Longview, Texas
Mass General Brigham Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (or Mass General Hospital)
McBrayer Law Firm, Lexington, KY
Memphis University School, Memphis, TN
Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
New York Court of Appeals, Albany, NY
New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, Albany, NY
Ohio Senate, Columbus, OH
Penn Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Radiology Dept.
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA,
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Harrisburg, PA
Pennsylvania State University Berks Campus, Reading, PA
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Oxford, OH
Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA
Samford University, Birmingham, AL
Scully Company, Jenkintown, PA
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Rosemont, PA
Temple University Health System and Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
The Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA
Transylvania University, Lexington, KY
United States District Court of the Eastern District of Alexandria
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
University of Georgia School of Law, Atlanta, GA
University of Iowa, IA
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
US Naval War College, Newport, RI
Victaulic, Easton, PA
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Numerous private commissions