Paul Ryan
Artist Profile
Biography
In a wry evaluation of what is ‘Australian’ Paul Ryan does not shirk from uncomfortable moments in our shared history. Indeed, confronting these histories is an important part of developing a stronger society. In this confrontation of Australian history, Mick Jagger is cast as botanist Joseph Banks dressed in pastel dandy garb, and jaunty still life scenes are populated with weeds like Morning Glory. These comical often anachronistic elements of Ryan’s still life and landscape paintings highlight the absurdity of colonialism and draw striking analogies between invasive species and European settlement.
Throughout this new series the allure of Ryan’s punk impasto style is stronger than ever, drawing viewers in ever closer to explore the thick, gestural strokes of his expertly rendered paintings. His works are painted raw and fresh atop old linens with unsuccessful paintings underneath and roughly sketched with big brush strokes. This imbues his work with an immediate quality and energy that is ordinarily alien to historical and still life paintings. As much as his subjects, Ryan’s invigorative approach to painting sparks inquiry it not historical narratives and traditions.
Ryan’s thick, expressive style has seen him elected a finalist in the Archibald prize fourteen times, and also selected as a finalist in the Wynne Prize four times and seven times in the Sulman. Most recently, he was a finalist in the 2019 Archibald and Sulman prizes. Ryan won the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize in 2012, and the Paddington Art Prize in 2007 and 2010. Ryan was a finalist in the 2018 Mosman Prize and the 2018 Doug Moran Prize Ryan’s work is held in many significant collections including The Geelong Gallery; Artbank; Lismore Regional Gallery; Woolongong Regional Art Gallery; Mosman Art
Gallery; Woolongong University Collection; The Manly Art Gallery and many private and corporate collections nationally and internationally.
In a wry evaluation of what is ‘Australian’ Paul Ryan does not shirk from uncomfortable moments in our shared history. Indeed, confronting these histories is an important part of developing a stronger society. In this confrontation of Australian history, Mick Jagger is cast as botanist Joseph Banks dressed in pastel dandy garb, and jaunty still life scenes are populated with weeds like Morning Glory. These comical often anachronistic elements of Ryan’s still life and landscape paintings highlight the absurdity of colonialism and draw striking analogies between invasive species and European settlement.
Throughout this new series the allure of Ryan’s punk impasto style is stronger than ever, drawing viewers in ever closer to explore the thick, gestural strokes of his expertly rendered paintings. His works are painted raw and fresh atop old linens with unsuccessful paintings underneath and roughly sketched with big brush strokes. This imbues his work with an immediate quality and energy that is ordinarily alien to historical and still life paintings. As much as his subjects, Ryan’s invigorative approach to painting sparks inquiry it not historical narratives and traditions.
Ryan’s thick, expressive style has seen him elected a finalist in the Archibald prize fourteen times, and also selected as a finalist in the Wynne Prize four times and seven times in the Sulman. Most recently, he was a finalist in the 2019 Archibald and Sulman prizes. Ryan won the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize in 2012, and the Paddington Art Prize in 2007 and 2010. Ryan was a finalist in the 2018 Mosman Prize and the 2018 Doug Moran Prize Ryan’s work is held in many significant collections including The Geelong Gallery; Artbank; Lismore Regional Gallery; Woolongong Regional Art Gallery; Mosman Art
Gallery; Woolongong University Collection; The Manly Art Gallery and many private and corporate collections nationally and internationally.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Coledale. Backwash and Campfire Smoke, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2023 ‘Return to the Island’, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2022 ‘The Island’, NandaHobbs, Sydney
2022 ‘Rococo Dreaming’, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2021 ‘South by Southwest’, Nanda Hobbs Gallery, Sydney
2021 ‘Beclamed’, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2021 333Projects, Clayton Utz, Melbourne
2021 The Botanist, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2019 South Pacific, NandaHobbs, Sydney
2018 Yeah the Boys, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2018 The Colonies, South by South East, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2017 Happy Days in the Colony, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2017 Recent Paintings, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2017 Nanda / Hobbs, Sydney
2016 Queen and Country, Olsen Irwin, Sydney
2016 Frank and Paul, (Collaboration with Frank Nowland) Egg and Dart Gallery, Thirroul, NSW
2015 Birds of Wollongong, Olsen Irwin, Sydney
2015 Stalking Noah, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter
2014 Happy Days on the Leisure Coast, Olsen Irwin, Sydney
2013 Wild Colonial Boys, Olsen Irwin, Sydney
2012 Wild Colonial Boys, Egg and Dart, Rex Irwin Art Dealer
2012 Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
2011 Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
2010 No Country for Dreaming, Wollongong City Gallery
2010 Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
2010 Michael Reid, Murrurundi, New South Wales
2010 Clifton School of Arts
2008 Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
2006 Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney
2001-05 Dickerson Gallery, Sydney
2002-03 Dickerson Gallery, Melbourne
1997 Gallery 482, Brisbane
1989-90 DC Art, Sydney
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Summer New, James Makin Gallery
2022 Salon des Refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2021 Chapter 3, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2020 Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2019 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
2019 Summer Show, NandaHobbs, Sydney
2018 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
2018 Summer Show, NandaHobbs, Sydney
2017 Coast, Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
2017 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
2015 Group Show, There Is No Fantasy + Dianne Tanzer gallery, Melbourne
2014 Group Show, Station Gallery, Melbourne
2013 Green Cathedral, Wollongong City Gallery
2011 BIG/small, Rex Irwin Art Dealer
2009 Heads, Rex Irwin Art Dealer
2008 Food for Thought, NG Gallery, Chippendale
2007 The Sea, Rex Irwin Art Dealer
2007 Cuisine and Country, touring exhibition of regional galleries
2006 The Idea of the Animal, RMIT University, Melbourne
1990-2008 Important Works on Paper, Rex Irwin Art Dealer
AWARDS & PRIZES
2022 Finalist – Salon des Refuses (Archibald), SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2021 Finalist – Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery
2021 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Gallery
2020 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Gallery
2020 Finalist – Sir John Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2019 Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
2019 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2019 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2018 Finalist – Wynne Prize, (highly commended) Art Gallery NSW,
2017 Finalist – Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra
2016 Finalist – Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery
2016 Finalist – Paddington Art Prize (honorable mention), NSW
2016 Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Parliament House
2015 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2015 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize (winner), Lismore Regional Gallery
2015 Mosman Art Prize (winner), Mosman Art Gallery
2015 Finalist – Black Swan Portrait Prize, Perth, WA
2015 Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Parliament House
2014 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2014 Mosman Art Prize (runner up), Mosman Art Gallery
2014 Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2012 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2012 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2012 Finalist – Geelong Contemporary Art Prize (winner), Geelong Regional Gallery
2012 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Gallery
2012 Finalist – Tattersalls Prize, Brisbane
2012 Semi-Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2011 Finalist – Wynne Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2011 Finalist – The Tattersalls Prize, Brisbane
2011 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Gallery
2011 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
2011 Finalist – Paddington Art Prize (honourable mention), Sydney
2011 Finalist – Kedumba Drawing Award, Wentworth Falls, NSW
2011 Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2011 Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Parliament House
2010 Paddington Art Prize (winner), Sydney
2010 The Novill Prize (winner), Murrurundi
2010 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2010 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Gallery
2010 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
2010 Finalist – Tattersalls Prize, Brisbane
2009 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2009 Finalist – Wynne Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2009 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2009 Finalist – Tattersalls Prize, Brisbane
2009 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Gallery
2009 Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of Sydney, NSW
2008 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2008 Finalist – Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Woollahra, NSW
2008 Finalist – Bowral Sculpture Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, NSW
2008 Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Parliament House
2007 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2007 Finalist – Wynne Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2007 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize (commended), Mosman Art Gallery
2007 Finalist – The Tattersalls Prize (commended), Brisbane
2007 Finalist – Paddington Art Prize, Sydney
2006 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2006 Finalist – Wynne Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2006 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2006 Finalist – Art on the Rocks, Sydney
2005 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2005 Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2005 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize (commended), Mosman Art Gallery
2005 Finalist – Art on the Rocks, Sydney
2004 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2004 Northern Exposure Prize (winner), Thirroul
2004 Mt Kembla Prize (winner), Mt Kemla Heritage
2004 Finalist – Fleurieu Art Prize for Landscape, South Australia
2004 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
2004 Finalist – Art on the Rocks, Sydney
2003 Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery
2003 Finalist – Art on the Rocks, Sydney
2003 Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
2003 John Copes Prize (winner), Bowral Art Gallery, NSW
2003 Finalist – St. Mary’s School Prize (winner), Wollongong
2002 Thirroul Art Prize (winner), Thirroul
2002 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
2002 Novill Prize (commended), Murrurundi
2002 Finalist – Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Victoria
2001 Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery
1993 Finalist – Archibald Prize, Art Gallery NSW
1989 Finalist – Sulman Prize, Art Gallery NSW
ARTWORKS
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Paul Ryan Blue Skull. Coledale
2022
Oil on linen with plaster render
130 x 180 cm
$22,000.00
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Paul Ryan Fire is the Illuminator
2022
oil on linen
84 x 72 cm
$7,700.00
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Paul Ryan Little Fire
2022
oil on linen
61 x 51 cm
$4,500.00
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Paul Ryan Escape
2022
oil on linen
91 x 81 cm
$8,000.00
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