Wayne Ensrud's career began at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he met the 20th century master, Oskar Kokoschka. A life-long relationship with Kokoschka followed where Ensrud's fiery temperament found expression in his artistic creations. Kokoschka encouraged Ensrud's belief that art can create a condition that will give man a true sense of the moral, ethical and dignifying view of creation. Painting stirs emotions to create an experience for the viewer.

Known foremost as a painter, he has also held esteemed positions as the youngest Art Director of the Dept. of Motion Pictures and Television for the University of California; Executive Art Director of PBS-TV, New York City; Designer of Animation of man's first walk in space for the ABC-TV Gemini Space Program; and Creative Director for the award-winning film series, "The Computer and the Mind of Man" for I.B.M.