Presentation
Ryan Travis Christian's 1990s suburban Chicago upbringing offered up absurd experiences, which he uses as fuel for the surreal personal narratives in his pop-culture-influenced graphite drawings.
Impacted by Chicago-style figuration, Christian focuses on the paradoxical relationship between childish cartoons and ominous messages, musing on the technological and material obsolescence of his inspiration. Vintage political cartoons and hand-drawn animation influence Christian's detailed vignettes—namely from Ub Iwerks, George Condo, and the Hairy Who—Christian comes to terms with his sources' sordid pasts while embracing their richness and flavor.
Christian carefully and densely layers graphite to reveal high contrast graphics and dizzying patterns; wiggly figures are rendered in slow motion, living among hazy landscapes and melting fences. He exposes the untidy lifestyle of contemporary humanity through a vast array of topics and imagery; the economy, the environment, gender, class, hope, and doubt are contemplated with drugs, heavy petting, alcohol, violence, depression, death, and the afterlife.
Christian's recent work has expanded to comment on current nationwide and worldwide crises: his historical precedents become mirrors reflecting the common concerns of the present. Text is prevalent in Christian's work, coming mostly from personal notes-to-self about conversations or encounters that have stuck around long enough to remain relevant to him and keep up to the caliber of his source.
This print can also serve as a modest piece of kindling for your bonfire in the unlikely event you survive the upcoming apocalypse
Ryan Travis Christian
Print - 50.8 x 71.1 cm Print - 20 x 28 inch
Sold
Exhibitions dedicated to Ryan Travis Christian
End To End Gallery
New Year, New Art
From December 31, 2023 to January 30, 2024
End To End Gallery
Happy Holidays 2023
From December 20, 2023 to January 1, 2024
End To End Gallery
Red Dot Miami | Art Basel 2023 - Booth 408
From November 30, 2023 to December 5, 2023
End To End Gallery
Sizzlin' Summer Exhibit
From July 17, 2023 to August 30, 2023
End To End Gallery
Spring for Art
From March 16, 2023 to April 3, 2023
End To End Gallery
End to End Gallery at Art San Diego 2022
From August 30, 2022 to September 5, 2022
End To End Gallery
Behind the Curtain
From July 15, 2021 to August 18, 2021
End To End Gallery
E2E
From June 17, 2021 to July 18, 2021
End To End Gallery
Masters of Urban Contemporary Art
From March 20, 2021 to May 27, 2021
End To End Gallery
Best on the Street
From December 17, 2020 to January 16, 2021
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