▷ ARCY | Buy Original Art Online

United States • 1987

Biography

Creating art in harmony with the community is the central agenda of ARCY's practice. His large-scale murals are rooted in street art culture, so that the very sense of community is continually present and frames the artist's work. The use of bold colors and the appropriation of both abstracts and motifs from the natural world have made his signature authentic. Nevertheless, the immense effort the artist puts into expressing his formal and conceptual executions demonstrates not only his great skill but, more importantly, the idea of art as a tool for social improvement.

ARCY, or Ryan Christenson, was born in 1989 in Connecticut. He studied at Naugatuck Valley Community College and received his Associate of Science in Horticulture in 2009. While growing up outside of New York City, the artist was heavily influenced by street art culture and immersed himself in the scene from a young age, admiring both legendary and current artists from around the world. It was the freedom of expression that drew him to this particular art form.

As mentioned, the biggest source of inspiration comes from his graffiti roots, so naturally every piece the artist creates emphasizes the splashes, splatters, and drips of paint, which are attributed to the raw nature of the art form. In fact, his particular style explores a blend of the traditional photorealistic genre of modern art infused with a contemporary vision of today's graffiti art. A perfect example are ARCY's photorealistic depictions of animals native to the Northwest Indiana region, which are often complemented by abstract elements to achieve a unique symphony of color flows and trompe-l'oeil. The emphasis on the correct color selection is of utmost importance since ARCY wishes to approach the three-dimensional aspect of his works. Interestingly, dozens of notable hues are somehow reminiscent of the works of late Abstract Expressionism, with a particular interpretation of Jackson Pollock , who greatly influenced the artist.

In addition to painting live at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, for a private fundraising gala, which was a special honor, ARCY was selected to create a permanent exhibition installation for the National Park Service in Indiana, USA. Due to the positive reception of these works, the artist was then commissioned to create an original work for the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, which remains on permanent display to this day.

The domains of ARCY's artistic practice should not be sought so much in the formal sense, but rather in the artist's socially engaged agenda. The artist's large-scale mural works reflect an apparent attempt to embody the enthusiasm, patience, and creativity necessary to ensure and encourage the youth of our communities to strive to become what they want. The captivating visual expressions are intended for public consumption in a sense of aesthetic and spiritual stimulation. In fact, ARCY is eager to send the message that struggle leads to triumph and that success requires determination.

Nationality

American artists