Ryan Travis Christian

Upcoming Shows

October, 2010, Project Room

Artist Biography

Ryan Travis Christian was born in Oakland, CA 1983. Graduating with a B.F.A. from Northern Illinois University and now living outside of Chicago, he bides his time as an artist, curator, and writes for the Bay Area based art blog FecalFace.com. Christian has been reviewed on fecalface.com, Time Out Chicago, and The Comics Journal with a feature in the current issue of Beautiful Decay, “What a Mess”. Recent curatorial endeavors include West, Wester, Westest! @ FFDG, S.F. and Sports! @ Synchronicity, L.A., and Control C, Control V at EBERSMOORE. With an upcoming, 3 part project @ Western Exhibitions. He has exhibited work @ Dogmatic/Butcher Shop, Roots and Culture, Western Exhibitions, , FFDG, Synchronicity, and Infinity @ Scion Installation, LA. And will be showing work @ Space 1026, Guerrero Gallery, and POVEvolving.

Ryans’ images are constructed using abstract elements (pattern, and organic smoke/vapor like formation) comic utilities (like sub panels and motion lines) and old fashion cartoon iconography. He uses these components to anchor his story and or experiences so he can hopefully connect with a broader audience. “Not everyone loves That 70′s Show-esque, small town, stoner folklore.. I have always believed that the best art is a combination of first hand experience melded with visual devices that have withstood the test of time,and have been used and re-used through out history”.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION
-2007, BFA in Painting – Northern Illinois University – DeKalb IL

SELECT EXHIBITIONS
2010
- Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco CA (forthcoming)
- “wait, What?” POVEvolving, Los Angeles CA
- “Antexspagna” EbersMoore, Chicago IL
- Space 1026, Philadelphia PA curated by Hilary Pecis (forthcoming)
- “PAPER! AWESOME!” Baer Ridgway, San Francisco CA curated by Brion Nuda Rosch
- “Inaugural Exhibition” Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco CA

2009
- “Infinity” Scion Installation, Los Angeles CA curated by Andrew Schoultz
- “East of Eden” Synchronicity, Los Angeles CA
- “Enigmatic Shadow” Synchronicity, Los Angeles CA
- “CaBoom” Synchronicity, Los Angeles CA

2008
- “Titanium Expose” FFDG, San Francisco CA
- NFO XPO/Version Fest, Chicago IL
- “Chimera Frontiera” Junc Gallery, Los Angeles CA

2007
- “Mutation Nation” D.I.Y. Gallery, Los Angeles CA
- “Brown River” Roots & Culture Contemporary Arts Center, Chicago IL curated by Bert Stabler
- “KlusterCrusts” Butcher Shop/ Dogmatic, Chicago IL curated by Paul Nudd

2006
- “Where All the D*cks Hang Out” Western Exhibitions, Chicago IL

CURATORIAL
2010
- “Lil’ Whitney” FFDG. San Francisco CA (forthcoming)
- “The Power of Selection” pt. 1,2 & 3 Western Exhibitions, Chicago IL

2009
- “Control C, Control V” EbersB9, Chicago IL
- “Sports” Synchronicity, Los Angeles CA

2008
- “West, Wester, Westest” FFDG, San Francisco CA

AWARDS
- 2006/ 2007 Cora Miner Fine Art Scholarship Fund

Bibliography
2010
- Fecalface.com (interview) online
- New City (review) online

2009
- Beautiful Decay, “What A Mess!” Book 2, pg. 100 – 115 (profile)

2008
-The Comics Journal, “Yeah, But is it Comics?” Issue #291, pg.145 (review)

2007
-Chicago Reader, “KlusterCRUSTS” June 7-13, Issue No. 119, pg, 75 (review)

VISITING ARTISTS/ LECTURE
2010
- Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

2009
- McHenry County College

COLLECTIONS
- McHenry County College
- Private – Berlin, Chicago, LA, NYC, SF, Ontario