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Ryan Gander

Ryan Gander has established an international reputation through artworks that materialise in many different forms – from sculpture to film, writing, graphic design, installation, performance and more besides. Through associative thought processes that connect the everyday and the esoteric, the overlooked and the commonplace, Gander’s work involves a questioning of language and knowledge, as well as a reinvention of both the modes of appearance and the creation of an artwork. His work can be reminiscent of a puzzle, or a network with multiple connections and the fragments of an embedded story. It is ultimately a huge set of hidden clues to be deciphered, encouraging viewers to make their own associations and invent their own narrative in order to unravel the complexities staged by the artist.

Ryan Gander RA OBE (born 1976, Chester, UK) lives and works in Suffolk and London. He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, Netherlands; and the Jan van Eyck Akademie, Maastricht, Netherlands. The artist has been a Professor of Visual Art at the University of Huddersfield and holds an honorary Doctor of the Arts at the Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Suffolk. In 2017 he was awarded an OBE for services to contemporary art. In 2019 he was awarded the Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University. In 2022, he was made RA for the category of Sculpture.

Recent solo shows have been held at Ishikawa Cultural Foundation, Okayama, Japan (2023); Annet Gelink, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2023); Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2022); East Gallery at NUA, Norwich, UK (2022); Space K, Seoul, South Korea (2021); Lisson Gallery, New York, USA (2020); Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland (2019); Lisson Gallery, Shanghai, China (2019), Esther Schipper, Berlin, Germany (2019), 21st Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2018), TARO NASU, Tokyo, Japan (2018); gb Agency, Paris, France (2018); Dazaifu Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan (2017); Remai Modern, Saskatoon, Canada (2017); The Contemporary Austin, TX, USA (2017); the National Museum of Art Osaka, Osaka, Japan (2017); Hyundai Gallery, Seoul, South Korea (2017); Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium (2016); Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO, USA (2016); Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (2015); Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia (2015); Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore, Singapore (2015); and Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, UK (2014). Major projects include Liverpool Biennale, UK; Sydney Biennale, Sydney, Australia; British Art Show 8, Leeds, UK; Performa 15, New York, NY, USA; Panorama, High Line, New York, USA; Imagineering, Okayama Castle, Okayama, Japan; 'The artists have the keys', 2 Willow Road, London, UK; Unlimited, Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Parcours, Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Esperluette, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France; dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany; 'Locked Room Scenario', commissioned by Artangel, London, UK; ILLUMInations at the 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy; 'Intervals' at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY, USA; and 'The Happy Prince', Public Art Fund, Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, New York, NY, USA.

 

 

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

‘Ryan Gander: The Find’, Manchester Factory Festival (29 June - 16 July 2023)

Chester Contemporary, Curated by Ryan Gander (22 September - 1 December 2023)

‘The Irreplaceable Human – the Conditions of Creativity in the Age of AI’, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (23 November 2023 -7 April 2024)

Irresistible Force Paradox (Mexico Blue 336), 2023

Ryan Gander
Irresistible Force Paradox (Mexico Blue 336), 2023

Aluminium, Automotive Paint
180 x 122 x 5 cm

I be... (lvii), 2023

Ryan Gander
I be... (lvii), 2023

Antique mirror and marble resin
126 x 89 x 21 cm

Know not your place in the world / Explorations in agency (Dan Navarro), 2023

Ryan Gander
Know not your place in the world / Explorations in agency (Dan Navarro), 2023

Bronze, gloss paint
Installed: 133 x 40 x 196 cm

A Moving Object, Or Out of reach, 2023

Ryan Gander
A Moving Object, Or Out of reach, 2023

Bronze, enamel paint
19 x 10 x 11 cm

School of Languages

Ryan Gander
School of Languages

School of languages, 2023
Animatronic gorilla, audio, desk, fan
Installed: 125 x 340 x 230 cm
Installed: 49 1/4 x 133 7/8 x 90 1/2 in
Audio: 27 min. 16 sec.
 

Temporal Departures (37 St James St South, Manchester),

Ryan Gander
Temporal Departures (37 St James St South, Manchester),

Temporal Departures (37 St James St South, Manchester), 2023
Stainless steel
200 x 90 x 5.5 cm
78 3/4 x 35 3/8 x 2 1/8 in

Chronos Kairos, 88.88

Ryan Gander
Chronos Kairos, 88.88

Chronos Kairos, 88.88, 2023
Stainless steel, acrylic, LEDs
34 x 72 x 15 cm
13 3/8 x 28 3/8 x 5 7/8 in

Bound by things

Ryan Gander
Bound by things

2023

Animatronics 197 x 135 x 13 cm 77 1/2 x 53 1/8 x 5 1/8 in

Upturned Adirondack chair, 2023

Ryan Gander
Upturned Adirondack chair, 2023

Glass
92 x 104 x 72.5 cm

Chronos Kairos, 14.58

Ryan Gander
Chronos Kairos, 14.58

2021

Stainless steel 31.5 x 44 x 8.8 cm 12 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 3 1/2 in
 

Group Portrait - Esteemed colleagues, Goldfinger’s House, 2 Willow Road, London, 28th of March 2014 during the exhibition The Artists Have The Keys.,

Ryan Gander
Group Portrait - Esteemed colleagues, Goldfinger’s House, 2 Willow Road, London, 28th of March 2014 during the exhibition The Artists Have The Keys.,

2016
Acrylic on glass 114 x 219 x 2.5 cm 44 7/8 x 86 1/4 x 1 in

Natural and conventional signs (Some painted signs, whilst others stared at the moon)

Ryan Gander
Natural and conventional signs (Some painted signs, whilst others stared at the moon)

2021

12 oz burlap linen flax, 10 oz indigo black Japanese denim, acrylic paint, propylene glycol floor paint. 180.5 x 268.5 x 3.5 cm (overall).

This natural sign (Some painted slogans, others stood calmly staring at the moon)

Ryan Gander
This natural sign (Some painted slogans, others stood calmly staring at the moon)

2021

10 oz indigo Japanese denim, acrylic paint. 180.5 x 130.5 x 4.5 cm / 71 x 51 3/8 x 1 3/4 in.

Goodnight London, or The squatters (Misty meet Floyer’s Mirror Globe [2014], 2020

Ryan Gander
Goodnight London, or The squatters (Misty meet Floyer’s Mirror Globe [2014], 2020

Wood, latex, resin, synthetic fur, paint, animatronics 12.7 x 40.6 x 30.5 cm 5 x 16 x 12 in

Bit Part Player (Balthazar, Merchant of Venice; Act 3, Scene 4), 2019-2020

Ryan Gander
Bit Part Player (Balthazar, Merchant of Venice; Act 3, Scene 4), 2019-2020

Graphite, fibreglass, resin, cotton t-shirt and joggers Figure: 183 x 65 x 47 cm Figure: 72 x 25 1/2 x 18 1/2 in

By physical or cognitive means (Broken Window Theory 31 December), 2020

Ryan Gander
By physical or cognitive means (Broken Window Theory 31 December), 2020

Framed painting on glass, Ink on paper, emulsion paint, aluminium frame, reinforced broken glass 120 x 95 x 7.6 cm 47 1/8 x 37 3/8 x 2 7/8 in

These memories are not my own, 2019-2020

Ryan Gander
These memories are not my own, 2019-2020

Vending machine, stones, jesmonite, graphite, graphene 183.5 x 80 x 94 cm 72 1/8 x 31 1/2 x 37 in

Staccato Refractions, 2019-2020

Ryan Gander
Staccato Refractions, 2019-2020

Infototem sign, glass lens and Monstera deliciosa plants Infototem sign: 69.8 x 195.9 x 54.6 cm Infototem sign: 27 1/2 x 77 1/8 x 21 1/2 in Dimensions variable

The End

Ryan Gander
The End

2020
Animatronics Room variable dimensions. Mouse unit: 19.5 x 24 x 22 cm Room variable dimensions. Mouse unit: 7 5/8 x 9 3/8 x 8 5/8 in

Retrospective Study for Dramaturgical Framework (Torso of a youthful athletes next move, with elongated armature)

Ryan Gander
Retrospective Study for Dramaturgical Framework (Torso of a youthful athletes next move, with elongated armature)

2019
Marble resin, stainless steel 200 x 100 x 50 cm 78 5/8 x 39 1/4 x 19 5/8 in

Take confidence in your abilities

Ryan Gander
Take confidence in your abilities

2019
Animatronics 9 x 2.5 x 6.5 cm 3 1/2 x 7/8 x 2 1/2 in

By physical or cognitive means (Broken Window Theory 25th March)

Ryan Gander
By physical or cognitive means (Broken Window Theory 25th March)

2019
Ink on paper, emulsion paint, aluminium frame, reinforced broken glass, duct tape 180 x 135 x 7 cm 70 3/4 x 53 1/8 x 2 3/4 in

Separating Prototyping Experiences (Studio Apparition Scene)

Ryan Gander
Separating Prototyping Experiences (Studio Apparition Scene)

2018
Screenprint on acrylic, Inkjet print 60 x 44.3 x 4 cm 45. 23 1/2 x 17 3/8 x 1 1/2 in

I be... (xxv), 2018

Ryan Gander
I be... (xxv), 2018

Antique mirror, marble resin 160 x 85 x 15 cm 62 7/8 x 33 3/8 x 5 7/8 in

View from the studio window (8th November 2017)

Ryan Gander
View from the studio window (8th November 2017)

2019
HD screens, PC, plywood, steel, acrylic, window frosting, paint, window fixtures 122.5 x 145.9 x 33 cm 123. 48 1/8 x 57 3/8 x 12 7/8 in

All things being equal, or I'm with you

Ryan Gander
All things being equal, or I'm with you

2018
Bronze, wooden cube, plinths 70 x 25 x 35 cm (each sculpture) 27 1/2 x 9 3/4 x 13 3/4 in (each sculpture) 80 x 40 x 40 cm (plinth) 31 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in (plinth)

Lost in the complexity of a language of my own making (Colorado)

Ryan Gander
Lost in the complexity of a language of my own making (Colorado)

2017
Wood, Colorado marble 180 x 135 x 6 cm 70 3/4 x 53 1/8 x 2 1/4 in

Conditions that will reshape you (Because you bequeath yourself redundant to conditions that will reshape you)

Ryan Gander
Conditions that will reshape you (Because you bequeath yourself redundant to conditions that will reshape you)

2018
Acrylic, LED panels 252.5 x 175 x 85 cm 99 3/8 x 68 7/8 x 33 1/2 in

I be...(xix)

Ryan Gander
I be...(xix)

2017
Antique mirror, marble resin 230 x 150 x 90 cm 90 1/2 x 59 x 35 3/8 in

Upturned Le Corbusier chair following an afternoon of snowfall

Ryan Gander
Upturned Le Corbusier chair following an afternoon of snowfall

2017
Ash, marble resin 81 x 68 x 70 cm 31 7/8 x 26 3/4 x 27 1/2 in

Overturned Rietveld chair after a snow flurry

Ryan Gander
Overturned Rietveld chair after a snow flurry

2017
Ash, marble resin 60 x 62 x 84 cm 23 5/8 x 24 3/8 x 33 1/8 in

On slow Obliteration, or Are you with me?

Ryan Gander
On slow Obliteration, or Are you with me?

2017
Coloured flip-dot panel, powder coated aluminium tray frame, rub down transfer 130.3 x 86.1 x 7.8 cm 51 1/4 x 33 7/8 x 3 1/8 in

Dominae Illud Opus Populare

Ryan Gander
Dominae Illud Opus Populare

2016
Animatronic eyes, sensors 35 x 35 x 17.5 cm 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 x 6 7/8 in

Group Portrait - A gaggle of six producers during studio school trip lying on the floor of Le Plateau, Paris, 9th of October, 2013 prior to the opening of the exhibition Make Every Show Like It’s Your Last.

Ryan Gander
Group Portrait - A gaggle of six producers during studio school trip lying on the floor of Le Plateau, Paris, 9th of October, 2013 prior to the opening of the exhibition Make Every Show Like It’s Your Last.

2016
Acrylic on glass 198.6 x 82.5 x 2.5 cm 78 1/4 x 32 1/2 x 1 in

Your Righteousness!

Ryan Gander
Your Righteousness!

2016
Bronze 19 x 26 x 25 cm 7 3/8 x 10 1/4 x 9 7/8 in.

To employ the mistress.... It's a French toff thing

Ryan Gander
To employ the mistress.... It's a French toff thing

2015
Marble Dimensions variable

Fieldwork

Ryan Gander
Fieldwork

2015
32 objects with plinths presented on a moving conveyor belt Dimensions variable

Two Way Associative Sequel #7 (Thematic or no Thematic a Pattern Shall Emerge)

Ryan Gander
Two Way Associative Sequel #7 (Thematic or no Thematic a Pattern Shall Emerge)

2015
Mounted Print 125 x 125 x 5 cm 49 1/4 x 49 1/4 x 2 in.

Bad Language (The iconography and abstraction of substance explored)

Ryan Gander
Bad Language (The iconography and abstraction of substance explored)

2015
Acrylic paint on canvas, vinyl Canvas size: 130 x 130 x 4.9 cm 51 1/4 x 51 1/4 x 2 in Artwork size: 172 x 199 x 4.9 cm 67 3/4 x 78 3/8 x 2 in

Preparation is Everything (There Will Come a Slowness and We Should Prepare for That Also)

Ryan Gander
Preparation is Everything (There Will Come a Slowness and We Should Prepare for That Also)

2015
Mirror and Paint 180 x 180 x 3.5 cm 70 7/8 x 70 7/8 x 1 3/8 in

I is...(v)

Ryan Gander
I is...(v)

2013
Marble 136 x 91 x 195.4 cm 196. 53 1/2 x 77 in.

C++

Ryan Gander
C++

2013
Acrylic on glass Dimensions variable

An alternative timeframe for a gallery exhibition

Ryan Gander
An alternative timeframe for a gallery exhibition

2010
Video on monitor 1 minute (looped) Dimensions variable

As it presents itself - somewhere vague

Ryan Gander
As it presents itself - somewhere vague

2008
HD DVD 25 minutes Dimensions variable

Exhibitions

  1. Patternmaker's Maze - current exhibition

    Patternmaker's Maze

    20 July – 12 October 2024

  2. Ryan Gander: PUNTO! - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: PUNTO!

    14 September – 28 October 2023

  3. Selected Works in Seoul - past exhibition

    Selected Works in Seoul

    2 September – 10 September 2023

  4. Portals - past exhibition

    Portals

    10 February – 9 April 2022

  5. Ryan Gander: Things Just Happen to Me - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: Things Just Happen to Me

    22 July – 8 August 2021

  6. Selected works in London - past exhibition

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  7. Horizon - past exhibition

    Horizon

    6 October – 31 October 2020

  8. Ryan Gander: These are the markers of our time - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: These are the markers of our ...

    10 September – 17 October 2020

  9. FOCUS: Ryan Gander, 'The End' - past exhibition

    FOCUS: Ryan Gander, 'The End'

    25 May – 8 June 2020

  10. Ryan Gander: I see you're making progress - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: I see you're making progress

    19 May – 31 August 2019

  11. Ryan Gander - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander

    2 March – 21 April 2018

  12. Ryan Gander: I see straight through you - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: I see straight through you

    16 September – 15 October 2016

  13. Ryan Gander: Fieldwork - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: Fieldwork

    25 September – 31 October 2015

  14. Ryan Gander: The Fallout of Living - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: The Fallout of Living

    11 July – 25 August 2012

  15. I Know About Creative Block And I Know Not To Call It By Name - Curated By Ryan Gander - past exhibition

    I Know About Creative Block And I Know Not...

    16 September – 5 November 2011

  16. Ryan Gander: You Walk into a Space, Any Space - past exhibition

    Ryan Gander: You Walk into a Space, Any Space

    5 May – 5 June 2010

Shop

  1. The Boy Who Always Looked Up

    The Boy Who Always Looked Up

  2. A Melted Snowman

    A Melted Snowman

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