Kathleen Ryan

Kathleen Ryan

BornNationalityBased In
1984AmericanLos Angeles, New York City, Brooklyn
Biography

Kathleen Ryan creates mystifying and beguiling sculptures which reference themes of consumption, pleasure, waste and power. In her ongoing Bad Fruit (2018-) series, Ryan drafts oversized moulding fruits, which are assembled with scrapyard metal, found objects and tens and thousands of semi-precious stones and crystals. In her colossal sculpture Bad Grapes (2020), the gnarled vine is composed of rusted plumbing pipes, whilst the rotting grapes are brought to life with polystyrene and encrusted with amethyst, garnet, quartz, labradorite and countless other gems. This contrast between raw, brutal metals and enrapturing, delicate crystals creates a sense of unease with these objects. Questions of sensuality, greed and value surface in the sculptures, as discarded objects mix with precious materials to create sumptuous slices of fruit. Ryan cites Dutch still life painting, ancient Egyptian sculptures and the decorative arts as key influences in her practice, whilst junk stores in Jersey City also provide ample inspiration. This continual bleeding between high and low culture within Ryan’s work reflects her ongoing interest in culture and the hierarchies that it’s riddled with. ...

Selected Artworks
Bad Lemon (Flourish)
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Lemon (Flourish), 2022
40.6 x 36.8 x 47cm
Diana
Kathleen Ryan
Diana, 2017
223.52 x 60.96 x 60.96cm
Bad Peach
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Peach, 2019
39.37 x 41.91 x 40.64cm
Bad Cherries (Dimples)
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Cherries (Dimples), 2020
81.28 x 55.88 x 33.02cm
Bad Lemon (Diane)
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Lemon (Diane), 2020
47 x 48.3 x 43.2cm
Bad Melon (Moldy Slice)
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Melon (Moldy Slice), 2020
58.42 x 160.02 x 53.34cm
Bad Cherry (The Pits)
Kathleen Ryan
Bad Cherry (The Pits), 2024
24 x 28 x 28cm
Gallery Representation
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