globe. Basing his quirky,
aquatic images on the latest scientific discoveries, Ray brings a street-smart
sensibility to the worlds of ichthyology & paleontology. Ray earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas in 1977 and an MFA in
studio arts from Washington State University in 1981. He is proud to be an
honorary member of the Gilbert Ichthyological Society, the Guild of Natural
Science Illustrators & a lifetime member of S.P.O.O.F. (the Society for the
Protection of Old Fish). Troll's unique blend of art and science culminated in
his traveling exhibit, "Dancing to the Fossil Record," a major show which opened
at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco in 1995. The huge exhibit
included Ray's original draw-ings, gigantic fossils, fish tanks, murals, an
original soundtrack, a dance floor and an interactive computer installation. In
1997 the exhibit traveled to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. In 1998 it
hit the streets of Philadelphia at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The tour
ended in 1999 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Sci-ence. By that time it had
grown to 14,000 square feet. Ray also had a museum show on the road based on his
children's book, "Sharkabet, a Sea of Sharks from A to Z". Venues included the
Science Museum of Minnesota, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, and the
Carnegie Museum of Natural His-tory in Pittsburgh among others. Ray’s most
recent exhibit, “The Fin Art of Ray Troll: Be Careful What You Fish For” opened
October 30, 2008 at the Seattle Aquar-ium to an audience of 400 fish-o-philes.
In
addition to "Sharkabet", Ray has illustrated 3 books with author Brad Matsen :
Shocking Fish Tales, Planet Ocean, and Raptors, Fossils, Fins & Fangs. He has
also done the illustrations for "Life's a Fish and then You Fry" by chef Randy
Bayliss. He & his wife, Michelle, own & operate the SOHO COHO Contemporary Art &
Craft Gallery, located on a spawning stream in the former red light district of
Ketchikan. The gallery features Ray's own art-work, t-shirts and fish juju, as
well as original artwork by other local artists. Ray, as Honorary PhD in Fine
Arts from the University of
Alaska Southwest