Ryan Travis Christian
Biography
1983, Oackland, USA
Ryan Travis Christian's surreal personal narratives are fuelled by the absurdity of life in his small, suburban-Chicago hometown. The untidy lifestyles of contemporary humanity are all hanging out, including heavy petting, drugs and alcohol, beaten-up cars, fireworks and death. Christian's idiosyncratic vision, influenced by vintage political cartoons and hand-drawn animation, has recently expanded to include commentary on current crises in the nation and world at large. Tackling hot political issues such as immigration, depression and the American dream, Christian's historical precedents become a mirror reflecting many common concerns of the present, warts and all. His small daily drawings touch upon a vast array of topics (the economy, violence, the environment, gender, class, hope, doubt, and the afterlife) as they muse on the technological and material obsolescence of his cartoon and animation influences, Christian doubles down on the paradoxical relationship between childish cartoons and ominous messages.
Ryan Travis Christian's exhibitions include the contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, NC, USA; The Hole, NY, USA; Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA; Halsey McKay, East Hampton, NY, USA; and Cooper Cole, Toronto, Canada. He has been included in group shows in London, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, New York, Baltimore, Dallas and Los Angeles. His work has been written about in Frieze, Art ltd, Art Papers, New American Paintings, Daily Serving, Indy week and the Associated Press. His works are in numerous private collections worldwide.
Works
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AFTER A, 2024
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BOOTS IN THE AIR, 2024
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BYOB
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CLIMB, 2024
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HAVE A LATER, HAVE FUN TOO, 2024
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KNOCK YOURSELF OUT, 2024
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LADY BIRD LOVE, 2024
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MAN BIRD LOVE, 2024
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MORE POWER TO YOU, 2024
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PORTRAIT OF A STILL LIFE, 2024
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REPTILE, 2024
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RUNNING FOOT FOLLIES, 2024
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SAILOR MOONDOG, 2024
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SEX CASTLE, 2024
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STARSLING, 2024
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GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, 2024
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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VAPIN ON THE JOB, 2024
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HUH
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WHAT ABOUT ME!?, 2024
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A GUY JUST PAID FOR A HAIRCUT HE DOESNT LIKE, 2023
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CLOCKSTOPPERS, 2024
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LAOVANDO, 2023
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PEPPER 2, 2023
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PLATE CARRIER, 2023
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PLUR, 2023
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TIME FUCKER, 2023
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Spark Bird, 2022
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Red Dog, 2022
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Party at the Pinnacle, 2022
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DOWNHILL FROM HERE, 2022
Publications
News
Art Fairs
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Dallas Art Fair 2024
Dallas 4 - 7 Apr 2024 -
ART BUSAN 2023
Busan 4 - 7 May 2023Dureing ART Busan 2023 we will be showing a very special selection of works by artists Ryan Travis Christian, Julio Galindo, Kang Haoxian, Lisse Declercq,...Read more -
CAN IBIZA 2022
Contemporary Art Now 13 - 17 Jul 2022