Ray Troll

Ray Troll
Ray Troll in 2017
Born
Raymond Michael Troll

(1954-03-04) March 4, 1954 (age 70)
Corning, New York, U.S.
EducationMFA
Alma materWashington State University
SpouseMichelle Troll
Websitetrollart.com

Ray Troll (born March 4, 1954) is an American artist based in Ketchikan, Alaska.[1] He is best known for his scientifically accurate and often humorous artwork. His most well-known design is "Spawn Till You Die", which has appeared in many places including the film Superbad[2] and being worn by actor Daniel Radcliffe.[3]

Troll's renditions of everything from salmon to marine mammals to creatures only found in the fossil record have become iconic in fishing, scientific, and environmental activism communities around the world. He seeks inspiration from extensive field work in marine science, paleontology, geology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. His paintings and mixed-media drawings are in the collections of the Miami Museum of Science, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Alaska Airlines, the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska State Museum, and the Ketchikan Museum.[4]

He has collaborated once again with Kirk Johnson, a director with the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. Entitled Cruisin' the Fossil Coastline: The Travels of an Artist and a Scientist along the Shores of the Prehistoric Pacific.[5]

In 2002, the ratfish Hydrolagus trolli was named after him in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness of ratfish.[6]

  1. ^ Troll, Ray (2004). Rapture of the Deep. University of California Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-520-23947-0.
  2. ^ "Troll Product Cultural Sightings". Trollart.com The Fin Art of Ray Troll. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. ^ Sampio, Gina. "More Troll Product Cultural Sightings". Trollart.com The Fin Art of Ray Troll. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  4. ^ Fishy business: Ketchikan artist Ray Troll thrives on creatures of the sea, Alaska Dispatch News, Steve Quinn, May 15, 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Ratfish named after Ketchikan artist Ray Troll | Peninsula Clarion". 2014-10-25. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2022-09-14.