Rowan Pope

Ethan “Rowan” Pope is an Adjunct Professor of Art at the University of Minnesota, where he has taught Drawing and Graphic Novel Illustration for over twelve years. He also teaches at MCAD, focusing on Foundation: 2D classes and screenwriting. Holding an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BA from Stanford University, Rowan’s work explores the human condition through visual narratives inspired by Franz Kafka’s literature and Holocaust survivor testimonies. His art has been exhibited internationally and is featured in major institutions like the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Walker Art Center.

Rowan’s research includes a faculty-funded trip to Prague to study Kafka’s legacy and a grant-supported illustrated book based on Holocaust survivor Joe Grosnacht’s stories. He collaborates with twin brother Bly Pope on screenplays and art projects, employing a “composite photorealism” technique blending photographic sources with imaginative storytelling. Their works have been collected globally, with notable pieces like 'Maryanna' (Minneapolis Institute of Art) and 'A Hunger Artist'.

Teaching highlights include screenwriting workshops for youth at Young Authors Conferences and courses on Artistic Interpretation from Vintage Cinema. His artistic process emphasizes meticulous layering, grid systems, and media like charcoal, digital painting, and printmaking.