DEFILED — Collaborative paintings by Matt Sesow & Dana Ellyn

Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn have painted side by side in Washington, DC since 2001. In 2013, Dana dared Matt to “defile” one of her finished paintings — adding his signature lips and teeth to her completed work. What began as a playful act of disruption became a lasting creative practice. In a DEFILED painting, one artist starts and the other transforms it — the result is something neither could have made alone. Nearly 400 DEFILED paintings and counting.

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Available DEFILED paintings

4 abstract 1 realistic owls in black white and red on blue background

Parliament of Owls

12" x 18" · acrylic/ink on paper

$180

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4 abstract 1 realistic owls in black white and red on blue background

Parliament of Owls (with baby owl)

12" x 18" · acrylic/ink on paper

$180

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Free Range

20.25" x 26.25" · acrylic/oil on watercolor paper

$240

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Woman with two faces, red hair wearing purple dress surrounded by phoenix bird drawings

Naked Patriotism

20" x 26" · acrylic/oil/charcoal on paper

$240

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an abstracted skeletal, blue-tinged figure contorting a realistic foot against a yellow backdrop.

Morning Stretch

12" x 25" · acrylic/oil/mixed on mat board

$200

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Dual portrait collaboration by Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn

It Could be Worse

18" x 24" · acrylic/oil/ink on paper

$240

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Chaotic portrait of woman with butterfly by Dana Ellyn and. Matt Sesow

Social Butterfly

15" x 20" · acrylic/oil on paper mounted on board

$190

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Montage of abstracted portraits of all US Presidents with realistic portrait of Lincoln

Presidents (Lincoln)

18" x 24" · ink/acrylic on paper

$260

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group of women with various expressions, some drinking surrounded by bottles and American flag

America Party

18" x 23" · acrylic/oil/charcoal on mat board

$300

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Veruca Salt collaboration Sesow and Ellyn

Daughter

9" x 12" · acrylic/oil on watercolor board

$140

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Woman with two faces, red hair wearing purple dress surrounded by phoenix bird drawings

Clara Barton (Self Taught Nurse)

18.5" x 24.5" · acrylic/oil/charcoal on paper mounted on board

$210

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Emotionally charged portrait of a woman with deep set eyes and prominent teeth on a red background

Haven

12 x 18" · acrylic on paper

$180

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COLLAB painting Dream State by Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow — a figure emerging mid-speech through chaotic brushwork, a dripping American flag, and acid green background

Dream State

23" x 31" · oil/acrylic/mixed on paper

$280

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Expressionist painting of a child with a large head holding a worn yellow stuffed rabbit, seated in an industrial landscape with dark sketchy structures and stark shadows.

Mine

12" x 18" · acrylic on paper

$180

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Expressive portrait of a woman standing with her arm raised and wearing Statue of Liberty crown

Liberty

12" x 18" · acrylic on paper

$160

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Crowned figure riding a horse, holding reins, with American flag sketch and bold yellow abstract background.

Hold On

11" x 17" · acrylic on paper

$180

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Expressive portrait inspired by Olympic hockey victory, featuring a smiling figure in American flag colors with dynamic abstract marks.

Victory

12" x 18" · acrylic on paper

$180

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A surreal child and pig ride in a powder-labeled cart, pushed by a grinning figure in yellow—bold, unsettling, and symbolic.

Keep Your Powder Dry

18 x 23" · oil/acrylic on mat board

$220

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Colorful turkey with expressive eye by Ellyn and Sesow

Turkey (#2)

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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a split portrait of a girl who is half laughing, half yelling surrounded by American Flags

It's Complicated

12" x 18" · acrylic/charcoal on paper

$180

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A baby lies in the foreground as chaotic black-and-white figures loom above, evoking themes of danger, innocence, and fear.

Sleeper Cell

12 x 18" · ink/acrylic on paper

$180

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A terrified woman cowers as monstrous faces and U.S. symbols swirl in black, white, and red—conjuring nightmares of power and control.

Sleeper Cell (#2)

12 x 18" · ink/acrylic on paper

$180

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an expressionistic abstract woman with large teeth and red lips throwing a crying baby in the air.

Uplifting

8.5" x 11.5" · acrylic on paper

$70

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barking dog baring its teeth with fighter jet and star overhead

Dog of War

12" x 18" · acrylic/mixed on paper

$140

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A wide-eyed rabbit confronts chaos in this expressive collab work, layered with bold black swipes and visceral red energy.

Beauty and the Beast

12" x 18" · acrylic/ink on paper

$110

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A wide-eyed rabbit confronts chaos in this expressive collab work, layered with bold black swipes and visceral red energy.

Beauty with the Beast

12" x 18" · acrylic/ink on paper

$110

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partially abstracted images of cyclists in the Tour de France on pink background

Touring

23" x 31" · acrylic/oil/charcoal on paper

$340

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Woman with two faces, red hair wearing purple dress surrounded by phoenix bird drawings

Body and Mind

12" x 18" · acrylic on paper

$180

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Woman with two faces, red hair wearing purple dress surrounded by phoenix bird drawings

Scout (Suburban Lawns)

18" x 24" · acrylic/oil/charcoal on paper

$200

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abstract colorful square and rectangle shapes by matt sesow with the addition of a window washer suspended on the building by Dana Ellyn

Room with a View

15 x 22" · acrylic/oil on watercolor paper

$160

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an abstracted skeletal, blue-tinged figure contorting a realistic foot against a yellow backdrop.

Best Foot Forward

12" x 18" · acrylic/charcoal on paper

$180

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Happy to be Me. Sesow & Ellyn collaboration

Happy to be Me

6" x 8.25" · Acrylic/oil on watercolor paper

$80

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painting featuring a grid of abstract skull-like faces labeled with poets' names. Carson McCullers and Allen Ginsberg are realistically painted, contrasting with the stylized figures.

A Gathering of Poets

26" x 40" · oil/acrylic on paper

$380

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Naked woman sitting crosslegged on floor with drink by Sesow and Ellyn

Follow the Leader

8.5" x 11.75" · Acrylic/charcoal on paper

$120

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Montage of abstracted portraits of all US Presidents with realistic portrait of Obama.

Presidents (Obama)

18" x 24" · ink/acrylic on paper

$260

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Young girl wearing dress with large red bow holding 4 American flags with drawing of yelling fist raised protestor.

Patriot

10" x 10" (x1.5") · acrylic on canvas

$150

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A woman with raised fist holding protest sign reading Free Speech, wearing pink pussy hat

Free Speech

12" x 18" · acrylic/ink on paper

$180

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Naked woman sitting crosslegged on floor with drink by Sesow and Ellyn

Cosmopolitan

16.5" x 11.75" · Acrylic/ink on paper

$180

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Naked woman sitting crosslegged on floor with drink by Sesow and Ellyn

Naked Lunch

18" x 24" · Acrylic/oil on paper

$240

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Lincoln. Sesow & Ellyn collaboration

Lincoln (#1)

5"x7" · acrylic/oil on watercolor paper

$80

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Dorothy Parker. Ellyn and Sesow collaboration

Dorothy Parker

9.25" x 12.5" · acrylic/oil on watercolor paper

$160

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Art Imitates Life collaboration by Ellyn and Sesow

Art Imitates Life

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Dual portrait collaboration by Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn

Nowhere People

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Going Nowhere is a dual portrait collaboration by Ellyn and Sesow

Going Nowhere

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Portrait of Pierre Bonnard by Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow

Visiting Pierre (Bonnard)

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Portrait of Dana Ellyn doing ballet. Collaboration by Sesow and Ellyn

Recital

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Bird and Bee expressive painting by Sesow and Ellyn

Bird. Bee.

12" x 18" · acrylic/oil on paper

$180

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Woman's face painted expressively by Matt Sesow and dana Ellyn

Shock and Odd

9.5" x 12.5" · acrylic/oil on paper

$160

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a screaming child with balled fists by Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn

Quiet Time

6" x 9" · acrylic on bristol paper

$70

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Innocence

14" x 17" · acrylic/oil on paper

$220

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Hillary Clinton and Tim Kane abstract portraits by Ellyn and Sesow

Stronger Together

28" x 40" · acrylic/oil on paper

$340

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Dual portrait of Ronald Regan with American Flag by Sesow and Ellyn

Repeated

11" x 17" · acrylic/mixed on paper

$180

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expressive portrait of a woman with red lips collaboration Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn

Outspoken

18" x 24" · acrylic/oil on paper

$260

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Purchase / Inquire

Interested in a DEFILED painting? Email dana.ellyn@icloud.com and include the painting title. We’ll confirm availability, total (including shipping if needed), and payment options.