ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Leading Hollywood conceptual designer TyRuben Ellingson will return to his alma mater, St. Cloud State University, to lead a presentation titled “Art School to Avatar” from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in the university’s Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom.

One of the earliest conceptual designers for Avatar handpicked by creator/director James Cameron to be part of his elite art department, Ellingson played an important role in establishing the look of the human presence on the alien world of Pandora. As a lead vehicle designer, Ellingson was a major player in helping Cameron carry out his legendary vision for the interstellar 3-D adventure, designing all but two of the vehicles that were so prevalent in the film.

Two upcoming movies featuring Ellingson’s designs are “Battle: Los Angeles,” set for March 11 release; and “Priest,” due out in May. He designed the alien space craft and weaponry for “Battle: Los Angeles” and a number of elements of transportation and weaponry for “Priest.”

Ellingson, whose father, the late Bill Ellingson, was a prolific and well-known artist, printmaker and longtime professor of art at St. Cloud State, will speak to graphic design and creative writing classes during his return to campus. He received from St. Cloud State a bachelor of elective studies degree in 1981 and a master of arts degree in 1982. He earned a master of fine arts degree in 1987 from Southern Methodist University, Dallas. He joined George Lucas’ Industrial, Light and Magic in 1989, and his first major contribution to a blockbuster movie was visual effects art director on Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” in 1993.

This event is made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and is presented by KVSC 88.1FM, St. Cloud State’s educational radio station.

Have you seen posters of the AMP suit around campus? Learn about the design process in this video:

Register for the Facebook event.

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