Biography

  • Colleen Ross has captivated the world with her stunning artwork, earning international acclaim through sell-out exhibitions, high-profile celebrity events, and...

    Colleen Ross has captivated the world with her stunning artwork, earning international acclaim through sell-out exhibitions, high-profile celebrity events, and her charitable contributions. Her creations have garnered widespread attention, appearing in top-tier media outlets such as Forbes, PEOPLE Magazine, The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, Variety, and Entertainment Tonight, as well as on ABC Prime Time, Good Morning America, and in exclusive celebrity interviews with Barbara Walters. Her work has also been featured in major films and television shows, cementing her as one of the most influential contemporary artists of our time.

     

    Born into a modest, working-class family, Ross discovered art as her sanctuary and creative escape. She began painting at just fifteen, quickly developing her skills as a figurative artist. Inspired by the glamour of silver screen actresses and the vibrant allure of romance comics, Ross developed a lifelong fascination with the female form, which continues to be the heart and soul of her work. By her thirties, Ross had transitioned to painting professionally, launching herself into the thriving art scene. Her work quickly struck a chord with collectors, earning her a devoted following and solidifying her reputation as a distinctive voice in modern art.

     

    Ross’s art is more than just visual expression; it is a reflection of her personal journey and emotional depth. Every piece she creates is imbued with a sense of vulnerability, an intimate connection with her subjects that transcends the canvas. Her childhood influences—the romance comics, classic black-and-white movies, and the unforgettable moments of the Ed Sullivan Show—remain central to her artistic vision, blending nostalgia with a contemporary edge. Her signature style fuses the meticulous craftsmanship of masterpiece-level art with a playful, campy spirit and a rock-star attitude. Colleen Ross doesn’t just create art—she tells stories, invites conversation, and challenges the viewer to experience the world through her uniquely bold lens.

  • Celebrity clientele and Collectors include:

     

    Brooke Shields whose show with Ross generated such a buzz, lines of fans stretched down Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills to see the artist and star.


    Delta Burke, whose portrait was featured on the Barbara Walter's special as well as in Delta's autobiography.

    Teri Hatcher, a fan and close friend of Ross' since the 80's. Ross has done portraits of both Teri and her daughter, paintings featured on the hit show, Desperate Housewives and the illustrations for Teri Hatcher's memoir, Burnt Toast.

     

    George Lucas, who loaned Ross his Tucker car which she then in turn immortalized in the piece "Very Nice Lines".


    Andrew Solt, an Emmy Award winner and well-known in the industry for his documentaries of Jacque Cousteau, the Rolling Stones and the book "Imagine", celebrating his friend John Lennon. (After the death of Andy Warhol, Claudia Fulkenburg, Solt's wife, looking for another portrait artist, chose Ross, saying that there was only "one choice left " that was of the same caliber as Warhol to do her portrait).

     

    Narada Michael Walden, famed musical genius for Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and soul icon Aretha Franklin. John Farrar, the Oscar-nominated "Hopelessly Devoted to You", record producer, song writer and composer.

     

    Others include, Michael Jackson, Judith Krantz, Sade, Annie Lennox, Nicolas Cage, Jane Seymour, 70's icon Farrah Fawcett, Eric Clapton, Michael Cain, Grant Woods Attorney General of Arizona, Jerry Sanders C.E.O. of AMD, international artist Hisashi Otsuka, Al Green, president and C.E.O. of Autodesk, John Tenny, Richard P. Kughn, Lionel toy train and Carail Museum owner, Ryan O'neal, Yumi Sato Interior Coordinator of Tokyo Japan, Bailey Company (Arby's Corporation), PACSAT, Microsoft, Raul Walters, Christopher Bently (Bently Holdings), Jeffrey Gall, Steve Solomon and other giants in their industries, all devoted collectors of Ross' art.

      

    Charities:

    Colleen Ross has always been an advocate of others and has been involved with many charities and charity events. Such charities include, The March of Dimes, Jerry Rice Foundation, Marin Abused Women's services (MAWS), Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, AIDS Foundation, Comedy For A Cure, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Bay Area Art Community.