Kathleen Ryan

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. ...

Since 2009, François Ghebaly has presented an innovative, eclectic program of Los Angeles-based and international artists. With a history of identifying and championing diverse voices and emerging talent, the gallery’s roster has grown to include 27 artists and 2 artist estates, ranging from early career, such as Sharif Farrag and Ludovic Nkoth, to mid-career, like Christine Sun Kim, Meriem Bennani, Kelly Akashi, Farah Al Qasimi, and Genesis Belanger, to well established, including Sayre Gomez, Kathleen Ryan, Neïl Beloufa and Candice Lin as well as underground legends, like Patrick Jackson and Mike Kuchar. The gallery advances the reach of its artists’ visions by publishing exhibition catalogues and producing artist editions. Located since 2013 in a 12,000 square foot warehouse space in Downtown Los Angeles, the gallery is a mainstay of the burgeoning Arts District community, and recently expanded to New York's Lower East Side. François Ghebaly’s program demonstrates a commitment to challenging work across all media and to fostering the progressive, boundary-pushing practices of its artists. ...