Ansel Olson

Born in El Paso, Texas, Ansel grew up near the Washington, D.C. beltway and studied design at VCU in Richmond, Virginia. His ancestors include a cartographer, a decorator, a master carpenter, and probably more than a few Vikings.

As a photographer specializing in architectural and fine art photography, he has over ten years of experience crafting story-driven imagery. He’s inspired by the juxtaposition of the conceptual and the straightforward, and marries a love of visual storytelling with a designer’s attention to detail. He has a fast-growing portfolio of commission work, including fine art photography for clients as diverse as the Homestead, Luck Stone, and Capital One. His fine art photography has been exhibited in several shows, and he is represented by Page Bond Gallery in Richmond.

As a designer, Ansel had nearly two decades of experience working with architects and interior designers on award-winning projects. His work includes brand identity, art programs, retail merchandising, wayfinding and donor recognition sign systems, exhibits, print collateral, and branded apparel. Ansel has served clients as varied as historic hotels, museums, resorts, restaurants and beyond.

Driven to foster a stellar RVA, Ansel co-founded one of Richmond’s first creative co-working spaces, The Marvin Lang Building. He is also a founding participant of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce's i.e.* initiative, aimed at growing Richmond's creative community. In this role he designed the launch event program, helped found the initiative's Shop Class series, and served as a workgroup leader in the “Revolution, Innovation and Change in RVA” series.