Time, The Earth And The Dream

Presented here are photos from my Retrospective at the John J. McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio.

The exhibition ran from May 30th through July 19th 2025.

16 paintings and 2 sculptures were presented.

YSU is my Alma Mater and I graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Painting and Ceramics.

Show Statement:

On a Spring morning in 1966, a storm howled over western Pennsylvania. As the hail beat down like lead and the wind moaned in hostile desperation, a baby boy was born in a dirty, old steel town. With his first cries of defiance, the storm suddenly quieted, the heavens opened and warm rays of light beamed down. The sounds of angel song could be heard on the Spring breeze. And in the depths of Hell, demons sounded alarm bells. Little did his young and innocent parents know, they would raise a child who would stun the world with his unbearable artistic vision.

The life of Ronald Jason Van Hoose was rocky and fraught with controversy. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, a city of danger and menace, he worked diligently into the late hours many a night, greeting each rising sun as a challenge from the universe. Endless hours were spent in the art studios of Youngstown State University where he received his BFA in Painting and Ceramics. Under the tutelage of Great Masters of painting, such as James Lepore, James Lucas, Al Bright and Russel Maddick, he became a Master in his own right. 

 With inspiration from the Regionalist and 19th century landscape paintings at The Butler Institute of American Art, he created an unparalleled vision of America.

 His work ethic was forged on his family’s cattle farm and he pushed and prodded his art career as if it were a stubborn, prized bull.

 Collections of his work traveled Eastern North America, from Columbus, to Cleveland, to Montreal to New York City.  

Van Hoose’s oil and acrylic paintings stirred strange feelings in people, bringing out the worst and best In them. Many a fragile soul broke down in tears while others embraced a rage they had never known. Stunned gallery patrons viewed his work in solo exhibitions at Art Without Walls, New York, New York, The Butler Institute of American Art, The President’s Gallery at Youngstown State University, and Fresh A.I.R. Gallery in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

 Currently he works as Gallery Manager at the cutting edge Lemon Grove Gallery in downtown Youngstown, Ohio and runs the popular Facebook page Youngstown Archeology.