Josiah Ellner received a BFA in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2019. Ellner grew up in Xi'an, China. Growing up in a city of more than 9 million people with scarce green spaces and little to no wildlife he has always felt a disconnection from the natural world. Despite these feelings of alienation, his relationship with nature is a focal point of his practice. From his personal experiences of encountering and engaging with nature, Ellner weaves together playful narratives that capture intimate moments of this connection. Through careful abstraction, he is able to heighten and fully portray the whimsical and awkward interactions that he has with the environment around him. Ellner is currently attending The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to earn his MFA.