At first glance, these paintings are a pop of color. From bold splashes of pink and idyllic turquoise, to yellow and orange splatters, the images painted atop what was once a plain white canvas now gives off a playful, almost dreamlike energy. They feature expressive figures standing alongside the water, leaning back onto a beach chair and holding onto the handles of a boat.
These paintings feel loose, yet energetic, with layered brushstrokes and unexpected bursts of color that invite the viewer to slow down and take a closer look. They're meant to be a little bit abstract and to simultaneously turn viewers to reimagine memorable moments that they fondly cherish.
But these pieces of art are not the work of a name you’d expect to be found somewhere in a textbook or sitting in a famous art museum (at least not yet). It’s the work of someone local. They’re created by someone who frequents the same coffee shops, drives along the same highways, and who aspires to be a bright, humble name in the area we call home.
Ella Holzwarth is the creative behind these pieces of art. She is a student at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is expected to graduate with both a Bachelors of Fine Arts and Bachelors of Psychology this upcoming May 2027.
“I’m a fine artist who specializes in oil painting,” Holzwarth said. When she’s not in the classroom, you can find her at Pottery Lane in Grand Rapids where she teaches ceramics classes and workshops.
“When I’m not creating, I love to spend time with friends and family or be active,” Holzwarth explained. As a devout athlete, she was part of the Aquinas College Women’s Soccer team for three consecutive years.
Her interest in art began at a young age. “My mom used to take me to do so many creative things when I was younger, and after taking some classes in high school, I realized that it is just something I have always loved. And it is really fulfilling for me to simply be able to create.”
“I honestly think that my art is a mix of passion and hobby for me,” she explained.
Holzwarth specializes particularly in oil paintings, especially for her college work. But her curiosity for other forms of art doesn’t stop there.
As part of her experience at Pottery Lane, she has been exposed to and dabbled with other forms of art, particularly ceramics. “Being in a pottery studio has given me the chance to delve into clay creatively, and it also gives me a space where I can make functional artwork that can be more fun and whimsical.”
“I love printmaking and honestly any other medium I can get my hands on!”
Whether it’s a swirly, dreamlike oil painting or a quaint, homemade ceramic mug, Holzwarth wants you to know that it’s more than just what you can see and hold. Her artwork is not purely about the visual aesthetics. It’s about evoking a feeling.
“A lot of my work focuses on people, places, or experiences that I love,” Holzwarth explained. She derives a lot of her inspiration from personal experiences, such as from the photos she takes while out on a beach or boat excursion with her family and close friends.
“It’s my goal to transport people in a way to their own good memories,” she said. Each piece of her art evokes a sense of nostalgia, presenting familiar imagery through a dreamlike lens that allows viewers to interpret it from their own perspective. It feels almost like looking at a piece of our own memory—the way our brains hold onto fond moments, rarely in perfect detail, but instead in fragments that become abstract and softened over time.
She also likes to feature imagery from local spots. A lot of her art has ties to West Michigan, from Lake Michigan to Lake Missauke. “I love working with beachy scenes that center around water, and I love creating work that I know a lot of Michiganders can relate to and draw back on their own relations to the colors or imagery in my paintings.”
If you’re looking to bring a piece of her artwork home, you’re in luck. Her website, ellaostudioart, is currently open and offers prints of her recent work. She’s also active on Instagram at @ellaostudioart, where she shares what she’s working on, behind-the-scenes glimpses and updates on where her artwork can be found.
She recently began selling prints of her artwork at Fulton Street Market on alternating Fridays, giving you the opportunity to connect with her and fellow art lovers in person. Looking ahead, she’ll have plenty more to share. From April through May, her senior thesis show will be on display at the Aquinas AMC Gallery, opening Saturday, April 10, 2027.
While she won’t have any paintings submitted to ArtPrize this year, Ella’s work will still be part of the festivities. On Saturday, September 26, and Saturday, October 3, she’ll be at Rosa Parks Circle alongside other artists selling ceramics, while Pottery Lane hosts clay activities for all ages.
And if you happen to find yourself on Anna Maria Island, Florida, you may even spot her work at The Original Sand Dollar.
While her art career is at the cusp, she has set a few goals for the near future. “I hope to have my work in Art Prize, just so that people can see my work and hopefully relate to it or have it remind them of something that is special to them.”
She hopes to connect with the broader Grand Rapids and Holland communities and spend the next couple of years cultivating pieces that will form a submission to an upcoming exhibition in ArtPrize.
Website Link:
ellaostudioart.myshopify.com
Instagram
@ellaostudioart
Sierra Ozolins is a West Michigan native, currently a student at Hope College. As an athlete, she is passionate about fitness—from running to weightlifting. With a interest for politics and lifestyle, she is intrigued how local culture, community, and everyday events shape the world around her—often with an iced coffee in hand and her dog by her side.
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