Ronny Bernstiel Jr

Since childhood I have been moved by the processes of creation and destruction. To draw, sculpt or otherwise create something from your imagination feels like magic to me; you think it and it is so. Erasing feels equally magical... It is there... then poof! It is gone. Magic.
Growing up I spent most of my time drawing and in both high school and college I filled my electives with art classes. My focus was mainly ceramics and I found great meditation and reward in throwing on the wheel. After graduating with a degree in Psychology, I incorporated my love of the arts by leading art therapy groups in a behavioral health facility. But it wasn't until I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013 that I fully realized my calling as an artist. Faced with my own mortality, a surreal shock set in as I had to process the fact that the end could be very near. So, what I would do was work on my art while listening to stand-up comedy and just laugh my head off. At times I’d consider the fact I could be dead soon, yet I was laughing and would recall the Buddhist saying “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky” and I’d laugh even harder. It was truly beautiful. I thanked the Universe ...

Associates of Arts (cum laude) in liberal studies from Montgomery County Community College
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arcadia University

2015, Featured artist at the Philadelphia Experiment's Summer Arts festival's center camp gallery
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2016, I was a resident artist at the Betty Jack's Gallery and performed a demonstration of Lichtenberg figures for a spring festival in Glenside, Pa.

2016, Featured artist at Conception Arts Exhibition at Xfinity Live in Philadelphia, Pa

2017, Featured artist for the Philadelphia Experiment's "Magic Garden Party/"

2022, Featured artist for the "Nomadic Rabbit Hole" event in Philadelphia, Pa.