The Art Of Mark Ryden

Mark Ryden returns with an incredible gallery of creatures From his Snow Yak to his very personal interpretation of the California bear, for more than 20 years Mark Ryden has populated an incredible "pop surrealist" bestiary of half-animal, half-plush creatures. Freely inspired by the Rushton toys that enjoyed their heyday in America in the '60s and '70s, these creatures are now the object of a cult worship among fans of the artist, and are one of his marks of distinction in the world of contemporary art. This book reveals the details and backgrounds of the new paintings Mark Ryden has created for his 2020 show at Emmanuel Perrotin's gallery in Shanghai, organized in collaboration with Kasmin Gallery, but also some of his most iconic master-pieces showcasing yaks and others creatures of his own mythology. With a statement from the artist and an essay by Linda Tesner, this pink book will become an instant classic for the lovers of contemporary art and surrealism.

Ryden was recently commissioned to create the set and costume design for a new production of Whipped Cream, put on by the American Ballet Theatre with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky. Whipped Cream is based on Schlagobers, a two-act ballet with libretto and score by Richard Strauss that was first performed at the Vienna State Opera in 1924. Premiered the MET new york, this ballet is already consider as a new classic masterpiece which would continue to be perform year after year. In partneship with Mark ryden and the crew of ABT, this book tells the story of this artistic journey. « A fantastical ballet of candyland delights » LA Times « A Sweetly Disturbing Confection » The New York Times « A Glutton's Fantasia" The Wall Street Journal

Original publication and copyright date: 2008.

Mark Ryden's paintings instantly trigger a warped deja vu. His work recalls a parallel universe of 1950s Golden Books and the whimsy of Lewis Carroll. His cheery bunnies, rendered in the glowing hues of children's books, are likely to be carving slabs of meat rather than frolicking in the forest. Ryden's work mingles superb technique with outre images to create a world of strange and disturbing beauty.

With its origins in the 1960s hot rod culture and underground comix and rock music posters, Pop Surrealism/Lowbrow Art has evolved and expanded into the most vilified, vital, and exciting movement in contemporary art. Pop Surrealism is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of this movement featuring twenty-three of today's most important and interesting artists.

Celebrated Pop Surrealist artist Mark Ryden’s newest body of work, presented in this book for the first time. Crowned "the high prince of Lowbrow," Mark Ryden has become a fixture of the contemporary alternative art movement. In his newest work, Mark Ryden: The Gay 90’s, the artist casts his skewed perspective toward the turn of the nineteenth century with such creepy yet beautiful works as a portrait of Abraham Lincoln dressed in foppish 1890s fashion and surrounded with a heavenly nimbus, Jesus Christ playing a pink piano for an audience of kewpie triplet girls, and a Gibson girl in a tight corset constructed entirely of meat. With masterful painting technique and disquieting content, Ryden’s newest paintings display his fascination with the earnest kitsch found in popular art of the end of the 1800s, yet reinforces how his paintings now more than ever are a skewering of both historical and current pop cultural touchstones. Ryden’s visual cues range from cryptic to cute, balancing his compositions between nostalgic cliché and disturbing archetype. This book showcases his talent for creating paintings that marry accessibility and technique with visceral resonance and sociocultural relevance, making it easy to see why he garners the ardent attention of museums, critics, and serious collectors alike.

These are miniature paintings of sorrow and fear from artist Mark Ryden's 2003 'Blood' solo exhibition at Earl McGrath Gallery. Blending themes of pop culture with techniques reminiscent of the old masters, Mark Ryden has created a singular style that blurs the traditional boundaries between high and low art. Ryden's vocabulary ranges from cryptic to cute, treading a fine line between nostalgic cliche and disturbing archetype. Seduced by his infinitely detailed and meticulously glazed surfaces, the viewer is confronted with childlike innocence and mystery.

LA Artland is a survey of one of the most vibrant and influential art scenes of recent decades. Having produced world-renowned artists such as Mike Kelley, Paul McCarthy, Chris Burden, Catherine Opie and Jim Shaw, Los Angeles since the 90s has superceded New York as the US contemporary art capital. With the continuing success of LA-based art programmes at CalArts, Art Center and UCLA, as well as a growing gallery scene stretching from blue-chip to artist-run spaces, the Los Angeles art scene continues to thrive, producing increasingly successful generations of artists. The focus of this publication is on extensive visual documentation of contemporary artists working in Los Angeles now, ranging from well-established international names to emerging talent. Alongside this visual survey, there are three essays. An essay by Jane McFadden (art historian currently teaching at Art Center) traces specific trajectories between artists living and working in Los Angeles from the 60s to today, forming a unique history of the area. Los Angeles, commenting on current trends and the influence of the LA-based MFA programmes. A third essay by Chris Kraus (author of Video Green) incorporates interviews with new artists and gallery owners providing insight into the network of sub-scenes that make up contemporary LA art.