b. New Jersey

Ron Sterling is an artist and educator who holds a BA in Studio Art for Rutgers University, Newark and received his MFA. in Photography, Video and Related Media from School of Visual Arts, NYC.  He has studied and worked with such artists and educators as Sandy Skoglund, Charles Traub, Michael Spano, Carole Kismaric, Marvin Heiferman and David Byrne.  His work is held in a number of public and private collections including Museum of the City of New York, Museum of Modern Art: Life of the City Collection, the Miriam & Ira D. Wallach Collection of the New York Public Library, and New York Historical Society.  Ron has also taught Photography at Rutgers University, and Digital Photography and Media at Palm Beach State College.

While working as a photographer and commercial artist in a design studio in the World Trade Center, virtually his entire body of work was lost on September 11th, 2001.  The event has had a significant impact on the artist and his work. He celebrates his personal narrative, exploring culture, mythology, history, language, loss, memory and beauty.  He views his work as a point of meditation and an offering to the eye.

After years in New York City and traveling the country, he now lives and works in Boca Raton, Florida. Ron is currently working on various book projects and a photo/video installation project about the missing persons and aftermath from the September 11th terror attack on New York City.

Education
1996   School of Visual Arts, New York, MFA Photography, Video & Related Media

1992   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark College of Arts & Sciences, BA, Studio Arts

1992   International Center of Photography, New York

Group Exhibitions

1991   The Foundation Show, Paul Robeson Galleries, Newark, New Jersey

1992   Senior Thesis Show, Paul Robeson Galleries, Newark, New Jersey

1996   MFA Photo Thesis Show, SVA Gallery, New York 

2001   Here is New York, 116 Prince St, SoHo, New York

2001   The September 11 Photo Project, 26 Wooster St, SoHo, New York

2002   Life of the City, Museum of Modern Art, New York

2002   Unity Canvas, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, New York

2003   The September 11 Photo Project, The New York Public Library, New York

2011   Summer Break, San Diego Museum of Art

2019   Ad Art Show, LinkNYC and The Oculus WTC, New York

2020   Ad Art Show, The Oculus WTC, New York

Collections

Miriam & Ira D. Wallach Collection of The New York Public Library

Museum of the City of New York 

Museum of Modern Art, Life of the City, New York

New York Historic Society, New York

RSM US LLP, New York

Publications

1997   Smug Magazine ed. Shirley Halpern

2005   Here is New York: A Democracy of Photographs, ed. Alice Rose George

2007 - 2009   Las Vegas Weekly

Teaching Experience

2016  Adjunct Professor

Palm Beach State College

Photoshop 1&2, Graphic Design, Digital Media, Multimedia Graphics, Publication Design

1996 - 1998   Adjunct Professor 

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Arts and Sciences-Newark 

Photography Lecture and Lab, History of Photography

1996 - 1998   Assistant Instructor to Jeff Mermelstein and Eugene Richards, International Center of Photography

1992 - 1998 Artist Assistant to Sandy Skoglund