Ron Hagell, Biography
Ron has lived most of his adult life in New York and Europe and is now engaged in making art and teaching. In 2013, Ron returned to the US and now makes his home in Columbia, South Carolina, not far from his boyhood home of Camden.
After his first career as an Army officer in Vietnam and in television (PBS and Lifetime), Ron completed a film MFA at Columbia University and also studied media, theater, art and photography at UNC and American University.
In 1986 Ron became a university lecturer and began work as a practicing artist. During this period he exhibited his films and photography widely in the UK, Germany, Canada and the US.
Ron's art has included installations featuring projections, prints and films centered on topics related to Diasporas, portraiture and family narratives. After completion of his RISD post-graduate certificate in digital photography, Ron applied various media to several photographic series and short films. As a painter, Ron specializes in classic images in acrylic on canvas and portraiture featuring abstract bold color value shifts.
Recent Works/Exhibitions:
Tapp's Arts Center & Outpost: Continuing studio and window exhibition of various works. 2014-2021
Artfields 2016 - "ou et Tu?" (ink sketch & projected video), 2018 - "Eka's Window" (photography & video Installation) and 2019 - "Bite the Bullet" (acrylic & bullets on Foamboard)
Berlin Bike – a digital photographic project making a new statement about the historical status of Berlin in the modern world. Group Exhibition – Berlin Now, August 2012.
Alone in the City – a digital photographic project inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper. Group Exhibition – RISD, December 2012.
Living the Dream – a narrative short film adapted from an existing short story about “coming of age” dreams after an accidental cycling death of a young woman. Expecting Goodness Film Festival – March 2013.
Sargent Homage – A photographic project based on the late 19th-century portrait works of John Singer Sargent.
Tissu de Femmes – a dance film project on the variety of roles played by women through time. Solo show with Sargent Homage – Margate, Kent, UK August 2013 & Camden, SC February 2015.
Quittin’ Time – Film entry in the Jasper Magazine - Second Act Film Festival – Currently underway: September 2013.
A Rat’s Progress – Film Short based on Shakespeare’s Henry IV (Pt 1&2) for the Nickelodeon Theater’s Shakespeare Series: February 2014
Trustus Theater – Director - Apprentice Company, Acting Master Track final performance showcases: 2013-2015
Lens of Time, Solo Exhibition - Kershaw County Fine Arts Center - Camden, SC - Jan-Mar 2015
Feed on Their Dreams – Indie Grits Art Installation - 2015
Gone with the Streetcar – Short Film - Nickelodeon 2015
Solo Exhibition - 701 Columbia Open Studios - Exhibition - 2015-16
Solo Exhibition - Yoga Masala - March 2016
où es tu? - Mixed Media Installation - Tapp’s Arts Center, Figure Out & ArtFields
Teaching:
For many years, Ron was a Senior Lecturer of media art practice at Royal Holloway - University of London and for two years at The Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, he teaches independently in Columbia, SC. His courses include screenwriting, filmmaking, acting and media art. He is the past leader of a Master Acting Track for the Trustus Apprentice Company and also teaches screenwriting classes privately and for The Nickelodeon Theater in Columbia, SC.
Email Contact: r.hagell@gmail.com Website: ronhagell.com