Elliot Cowan is an award winning animator, writer, artist and educator.
He was born in Melbourne, Australia where he attended the Independent College of Art and Design and followed that up with a further post grad year at the Victorian College of the Arts.
He spent nearly 11 years in Tasmania writing, directing and editing low budget television commercials.
In 2006 he left for London where he worked for Uli Meyer Animation, working as a story artist and gag man on the feature film Monstermania!
He conceived the characters Boxhead and Roundhead who appeared in several award winning short films as well as an animated feature currently on the festival circuit.
His drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings have been shown in Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Los Angeles, Chatanooga, Chicago and New York.
In 2007 he moved to New York where he paints and draws, makes sculptures out of foam core and cardboard and teaches animation.
He has completed animation, storyboarding, writing and story consultation for Sesame Workshop, Elizabeth Arden, Nathan Love, PBS, Ace and Son Moving Picture Company, The Logo Network, Uli Meyer Animation.
In 2016 Elliot spent a week working with visual artist Wayne White on Wayne's big history and art project, Wayne-O-Rama.
He works regularly with Oscar nominated Irish studio Cartoon Saloon - Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers.
Most recently he directed the opening titles to the upcoming comedy, Charlie In The Pandemic.
He teaches animation and story classes at Queens College, New York Institute of Technology and Mercy College.
His personal, straight talking approach to being a working artist make his guest appearances in classrooms and festivals a unique experience. Enquiries are encouraged.
He comes complete with legal working documents, a social security number and a beautiful wife, and friendly children.
Shows:
Solo
”Between The Recycling And The Podiatrist”, Vital Art Studios, May 2023, Woodside, NY
”Freedom Mentional” - The Garage Art Centre, June 2022, Bayside, NY
”Grunting In Philly” - Chhaya, August 2018, Passyunk, Philadelphia.
"Grunt!" - Flushing Town Hall, April 2018, Flushing, Queens.
"All My Nice Stuff" - Forestry Gallery 2003. Hobart, Tasmania.
Group
Winter Salon Show - Greenpoint Gallery 2024
Winter Show - Stride Arts Manhattan, NY 2021
Autumn Show - Stride Arts, Manhattan, NY, 2019
Faculty Show, The Pratt Institute, DDA Gallery, 2018 Brooklyn, USA.
Faculty Show, Queens College, Godwin-Ternbach Gallery. 2017. Queens, USA.
"Cardboard Coverall Dreams", errSpace, 2017. Chattanooga, USA.
"In The Raw: The Sketchbook Considered" - Edwardsville Art Center, 2017. Edwardsville, USA.
"3rd Annual Jazz Occurrance" - Aurora Public Art, 2016. Chicago, USA.
"New Blood II" - Stone Malone Gallery, 2016. Los Angeles, USA.
"Too Art For TV" - Bunny Cutlet, 2010. New York, USA.
"Tasmanians" - Bridge Gallery 2005. Launceston, Tasmania.
Podcast Appearances:
Rubber Onion Interview
Squiggly Online Animation Magazine
Animation Auteur
Spoiler Alert Radio
Press Interviews:
QC Graphic Design Magazine
Flushing Town Hall Blog
Cartoon Brew
Queens Times Ledger
Skwigly Animation
Times Free Press
Flushing Town Hall
UCDA
HVY
Animation World Network 01
Animation World Network 02
Animation Insider
Stride Arts
The AU Review
Films:
The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead & Roundhead (feature).
The Thing In The Distance.
Brother In Arms.
The Power of Flight.
Safari.
On The Run.
The Infernal Machine.
At Sea.
In The Dark.
Employee Of The Month (They Might Be Giants).
How The Mormon Stole Everything.