Ellis Ware is an Austin-based multimedia artist and former DJ. After graduating from law school in 2014 and working in the criminal defense field, he transitioned to a professional DJ career for four years, during which he also explored his passion for creating visual art. Over the past three years, Ware has been formally honing his artistic skills, developing a strong connection with sculpture, photography, and collage as a primary means of expression. His work was featured in the Student Juried Exhibition at St. Edward’s University in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, all three of his entry pieces were featured in the Student Juried Exhibition at St. Edward’s, where he earned first place for his self-portrait collage Sex Work.
Artist Statement
I am a multimedia artist working across collage, photography and sculpture, often centered around self-portraiture. My work draws from my personal experience as a gay man and the emotional discourse that accompanies it. By sharing my internal experiences, I aim to tap into feelings that are widely shared: intimacy, insecurity, self-awareness, and the need to be seen. At its core, my work is an invitation to witness, relate, and celebrate the act of being fully and unapologetically oneself.