Biography
Russell Crotty (b. San Rafael, California, USA) is a Southern California based artist whose work has been shown internationally and across the United States. His art career began in Los Angeles and he has lived for many years in the Santa Monica Mountains – and now works in Ventura and resides in Ojai, California with his wife Laura Gruenther. His work incorporates astronomical, landscape, and surfing themes. Especially known for drawings on paper-coated suspended globes and within large-scale books, he continues to explore new ideas that investigate and expand the notion of “works on paper.”
As a serious amateur astronomer, Russell has studied the night sky for decades. He has made important observational contributions to accredited astronomy organisations such as NASA and ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers). He documents the night sky and celestial phenomenon. The resulting body of astronomical work is informed by scientific research by contemporary astrophysicists, romanticised by his extensive knowledge of exploratory 19th-century science, and fuelled by his immense passion for the cosmos.
