Frank Ramme considers himself a symbolist. Born mid-century in Chicago, raised on Catholic doctrine and having traveled the world with his military parents, he now paints the vitality and truth of life in simple, pure forms. Ramme's work is emblematic of the peace and chaos of the self. He attended California Institute of the Arts where, he says, he learned nothing about painting. Apparently self-taught, his traditional techniques and transcendant imagery further illustratres this dichotomy.

The son of a photographer father and a painter mother, Ramme has an eye for the extraordinary. After art school, Ramme supported himself by channeling his creativity as a chef, musician and architectural designer. Painting, however, remained his passion. A little more than a decade ago he again began painting in earnest. His earlier work incorporates the religious icons of his youth and the symbols of our contemporary world.  The influence of Renaissance artists is evident in Ramme's figurative paintings and his use of deep shadows acheived with traditional glazing techniques.

Ramme's most recent work, distributed among four series called "Cosmologies", "Morphologies", "Ciphers" and "Confections" depicts impenetrable tangles of other worldly objects and beings seemingly locked in existential conflict. As always his use of transparent color and opaque meaning conjures the playfulness and fluidity of childhood.

Frank Ramme lives and works in Ontario, California. He and his beautiful wife have three children and four dogs.

M.L.