CV and Statement
“Eloquent, transcendent entities, with an almost spiritualized expressiveness, the glow of which reads like an utterance.”
~Gary Michael Dault, Artists’ Odysseys
Dana Ranke holds an MFA in Painting with a Minor in Textiles from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a BFA in Painting from University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. She works representationally, interpreting a variety of subjects in oil, gouache, and charcoal.
Statement
Spirit of place is the primary inspiration for my work. I paint objects and locales that I have directly experienced. Painting from life is my preferred way to paint portraiture, botanical, figure and object studies, where my intention is to express the essence of a subject through its formal qualities. Paintings of more complex natural and built environments arise from my own experiences of a place, combined with on-site studies.
CV
Dana Ranke
MFA Painting, Minor in Textiles, Rochester Institute of Technology
BFA Painting, University of New York at Buffalo
Selected Exhibitions
City Spots, Salmagundi Club Rockwell Gallery, NYC, NY. 2025, juried
Small Works 2022, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY. 2022, juried
Artists’ Odysseys: The Arctic, Varley Art Gallery, Markham, Ontario, Canada. 2006, invitational
Women’s Invitational Exhibition, Steiner Gallery, SUNY Genesee Community College. 2005, invitational
Niagara Artists Company, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. 1999
Faculty Exhibit, SUNY Buffalo Center for the Arts Gallery. 1997
63rd Annual Regional Exhibition, Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY. 1996, juried
Everson Biennial, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse NY. 1994, juried
71st Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA. 1994, juried
1993 Finger Lakes Exhibition, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, juried
Interiors, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Bevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology. 1993
In Western New York, Biennial Invitational, Albright-Knox Art Gallery. 1989, invitational
Winners of the Rumsey Fellowship, University at Buffalo. 1988, two-person
Selected Awards/Commissions/Collections
Stewart Financial, Oakville Ontario, Canada
Daniel, Black, and Partners portrait commission, St. Catharines Ontario, Canada
Ridley College portrait commission, St. Catharines Ontario, Canada
Patron Purchase Award, Erie Art Museum, Pennsylvania
Purchase Prize, Wallace Library Art Collection, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
Evelyn Rumsey Lord Fellowship, University at Buffalo, NY
Bibliography
Dault, Gary Michael. Ideas of the North, essay, photo fig. 4-1. Artists’ Odysseys: The Arctic, Markham, Ontario: Varley Art Gallery, 2006. Catalogue.
Chayat, Sherry, The 1994 Everson Biennial, Syracuse Herald American, Sept. 25, 1994, p.16.
Everson Museum of Art Bulletin, Autumn, 1994. Syracuse, NY: Everson Museum of Art, 1994. Cover.
In Western New York, Buffalo, NY: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1989. Catalog.
Art Department Names Two Prize Winners, The Reporter, May 5, 1988. Vol.19, No. 27, p.19.
Professional Experience
2007-present, Director of Arts/Teaching Artist/Curatorial projects, Autism Services of Western NY/People Inc.
1998-99 Gallery Assistant/Art Lending Coordinator, Rodman Hall Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
1996-97 Adjunct Professor of Intermediate and Advanced Figure Drawing, SUNY Buffalo, NY
1992-95 Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
1993 Teaching Assistant, Rochester Institute of Technology