Units of Meaning, 2012

Ryan McGinness is an American artist who lives and works in New York. He is a painter, sculptor and installation artist whose graphic design techniques include use of symbols, logos, letter fonts and icons combined in wild abandon, yet strict formality. Ryan McGinness's color choices include limited palettes, pure and crisp black and white, or vivid multi-colored splashes of organized images. Though at first glance some of his pieces seem as if they are collages of symbols randomly placed, closer inspection detects a specificity that could be called obsessive. The seemingly randomly constructions are elegant, with fine, detailed lines drawing the eye inward. Ryan McGinness' explosive colors could be chaotic, but evoke a sense of order that is unexpected at first glance. McGinness understands contrast. In his piece Aesthetic Comfort, 2008, the central sections of his images are pleasing circles filled with splashes of color and images, while the outer borders are precise, calligraphy flourishes. ROY G. BIV, 2009, is devoted to the separation of colors traditionally found in a rainbow. The panel row is meticulously spaced for display, with each panel devoted to one color. Many icons, symbols, and florid calligraphic lines give each panel visual texture. Sign Trees, 2015, are outdoor installation pieces made of reflective vinyl which is digitally printed with iconic symbols and secured on aluminum sign posts. The supports are steel. Since 1995, Ryan McGinness has been featured in books, solo and group exhibitions, gallery and museum collections around the world. Ryan McGinness was an Andrew Carnegie Scholar and interned as a curatorial assistant at the Andy Warhol Museum. His work has its roots in Pop art. His graphic design, silkscreen and printing methods have fused intricate patterns and flourishes into a cohesive whole which is at times delicate or bold. (Artist website)