About Ramona

My name is Ramona Stelzer, and I am a contemporary abstract artist based in San Francisco Bay Area, California. My work explores transformation, resilience, and the quiet strength that emerges through change. 

I grew up in Germany within a complex family environment, learning early to rely on myself and trust my instincts. Relocating to California in my 40s meant starting over, creating space to grow, transform, and thrive even in challenging circumstances, experiences that continue to guide my approach to painting. 

I am drawn to florals as living symbols of persistence and renewal. In my paintings, flowers are not literal but evolving forms that reflect the capacity to grow, transform, and thrive, even in challenging circumstances. Through abstraction, they become a space to explore the rhythms of life and the quiet power within all of us to bloom. 

 I am inspired by contrasts, delicacy and strength, control and release, structure and freedom. My process is intuitive and experimental, evolving through layering, revision, and moments of surrender. Ultimately, my paintings are meant to hold space for viewers to feel their own resilience, transformation, and the courage to embrace growth.

I left my job as a hair stylist to raise my two boys. This began my search for a new creative outlet. One day, I picked up a paintbrush, diving into the world of painting and growing my passion for capturing the beauty of flowers.

2002 - The beginning

Things moved swiftly, and I got the chance to host my debut solo exhibit at Gallery Pinocchio in Ötlingen, Germany. The exhibition showcased eleven large rose paintings and turned out to be a massive success, even grabbing the attention of local newspapers.

2004 - First exhibition

I continued painting and showcasing my work in several local businesses in Switzerland. However, I also returned to my roots, launching my own hair styling business. This venture, while fulfilling, did slow down my progress as an artist.

2005

Despite the success of my hair styling business, my love for art never faded. In 2009, I made the decision to invest in my passion and started my formal art education at Art School Quichi.

2009 - Formal Art Education

In 2011, my husband was offered an incredible job opportunity in the San Francisco Bay Area. The move meant uprooting our entire family and starting our lives anew. It was a challenging period of adjustment for all of us, especially for me, as I barely spoke any English at the time.

2011 - Starting over

As our family settled into our new life, I returned to my roots as a hair stylist and managed to rebuild my business successfully. However, in 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted everything. Once again, I found myself in search of a creative outlet and turned back to painting. This time, though, I was able to fully dedicate myself to art.

2020 - Unforeseen changes

I began selling my artwork and expanding my social media presence, which opened doors for local exhibitions in the San Francisco Bay Area and Laguna Beach. Through my online presence, I caught the attention of ZDF, a major German television network. This led to a feature in a docu-series highlighting successful German expats in California.

2021 - Exhibitions and a TV appearance
2022 - Solo Exhibition at the 
International Art Museum of America & Exhibiting in Paris

Things began accelerating when I hosted my debut solo exhibition at the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco and garnered features in Vanity Fair UK. The year reached its pinnacle with a showcase in Paris at the Salon International d’Art Contemporain, held at the Carousel de Louvre.

Being accepted into the Cubberley Artist Studio Program in Palo Alto set the stage for my work to evolve in a more abstract direction. The year came full circle with my first group show at Mash Gallery in LA—an unforgettable milestone!

2023 - Residency Cubberly Artist Program & First Show at Mash Gallery

The group show at Mash Gallery was an unforgettable experience, especially with it being filmed for Selling Sunset on Netflix. Adding to the excitement, I was also accepted to The Other Art Fair in Santa Monica, represented by Saatchi Art, where I had my own 32ft booth for the first time representing eight pieces of my artwork—an incredible milestone in my journey! To top it off, I’m now represented by Gallery Blanche in Canada—an exciting new chapter in my journey!

2024 - Mash Gallery, Netflix & The Other Art Fair & Gallerie Blanche in Canada

The year kicked off at full speed with the incredible opportunity to be part of a group show curated by Mash Gallery at the iconic Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

2025 - Mash Gallery at Pacific Design Center

Mahoneys Galleries, Brighton, Australia (link to gallery)
Represented since 8/25

Spazio Anna Breda Gallery, Padua, Italy (link to gallery)
Represented since 7/26

Mash Gallery / Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA (link to exhibition)
A GOGO III, Group Exhibition, 2/20/25 - 3/16/25

Mash Gallery / West Hollywood, CA (link to exhibition)
Dazzling Glamor of Creative Pursuit, Group Exhibition, 11/2/24 - 12/28/24

'The Other Art Fair' by Saatchi / Santa Monica, CA
Solo Booth, 9/26/24 - 9/29/24

Gallerie Blanche / Quebec, Canada
Represented 8/24 - 1/26

San Francisco Art Fair / San Francisco, CA
Represented by Perseus Gallery, 4/25/24 - 4/28/24

Mash Gallery / West Hollywood, CA (link to exhibition)
Feminine Cadence, Group Exhibition, 3/2/24 - 4/13/24
filmed for Netflix production 'Selling Sunset'

Mash Gallery / West Hollywood, CA (link to exhibition)
Impermanence, Silence, Beauty & More, Group Exhibition, 10/14/23 - 12/9/23

Emily Joubert Home & Garden / Woodside, CA
Represented 7/23 - 1/25

Emily Joubert Home & Garden / San Francisco, CA
Represented 5/23 - 9/23

Art Market San Francisco / San Francisco, CA
Represented by Perseus Gallery, 4/20/23 - 4/23/23

Salon International d’Art Contemporain / Paris, Carrousel Du Louvre
Represented by Mona Youssef Gallery, 10/21/22 - 10/23/22

Exhibit Art Gallery / Tulsa, OK
Represented since 9/1/22 - 12/31/24

International Art Museum of America / San Francisco, CA
Evoked By Emotions, Solo Exhibition, 5/03/22 - 6/26/22

San Francisco Women Artists Gallery / San Francisco, CA
Intense Palette, Juried Exhibition, 5/3/22 - 6/26/22

Stanford Shopping Center / Palo Alto, CA
Earth Day Weekend, Solo Pop-Up Exhibition & Live Painting, 4/23/22

San Francisco Women Artists Gallery / San Francisco, CA
Stormy Life Unfolding Beauty, Group Exhibition, 12/11/21 - 1/7/22

Invision Optometry / San Francisco, CA
Midnight Bloom, Art Display, 10/14/21 - 1/7/22

Laguna Art Gallery / Mission Viejo, CA
The Endless Summer Show, Group Exhibition, 10/5/21 - 10/31/21

Five 3 Gallery / Laguna Beach, CA
Emerging Artists, Online Representation, 6/21- 06/22

Galerie Pinoccio / Weil-Ötlingen, Germany
Roses, Solo Exhibition, 10/22/04

Exhibitions
Residencies

Cubberly Artist Program / Palo Alto, CA
5/1/23 - 8/31/23

Artists of the Year 2025, January 2026 (link to online shop)
Arts to Hearts Project Magazine, November 2025 (link to article)
Art New Yor Magazine, September 2025 (link to issue 28159)
Mixte Magazine 57 - page 50, December 2024 (link to article)
Chicago Weekly - "The Top 10 Artists of 2024", September 2024 (link to article)
Punch Magazine, March 2024 (link to article)
Canvas Rebel Magazine, February 2024 (link to article)
House & Garden Magazine UK, August 2023
Vanity Fair UK, October 2022
Vanity Fair UK, September 2022
Vanity Fair UK, July/August 2022
ZDF, German National Television Network 2021 / 2022 

Appearances