Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Gardell.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in 1989 in Worcester, Massachusetts and raised in nearby Grafton. Around the age of 10, I became interested in art and music while going to school. In 2007, I graduated high school and attended Fitchburg State College, where I began studying graphic design. In 2009 I started experimenting with mixed-media painting techniques and graffiti art.
In 2011, I obtained a studio space in downtown Fitchburg, Massachusetts and produced my first solo art exhibition, titled “Urbanomaly”. Between 2012 and 2014, I joined up with local artists to create several collaborative gallery spaces, studios, exhibitions, public art projects and live music events in the region. In 2012, I started pursuing freelance design, and have done so steadily until this day. During these years, I also worked in a screen-printing shop, a high-production copy printing facility, and as an after-school art teacher for under privileged youth from urban areas.
In 2014, I relocated to Worcester, with the intention of focusing on painting, traveling and exhibiting at various arts and music festivals, and also developing my home studio practice. I continued to work with local galleries & venues and expanded my art in several commodities such as prints, t-shirts and stickers.
During 2015-2016, I shifted focus toward mural production, developing my skills in the realm of public artwork. I began building an online store and enhancing my commercial art products, while freelancing for several brands and businesses. During this time, I also worked for a fine art gallery as a custom frame builder and gallery assistant. I built a new studio amongst a makerspace called The WorcShop, where I currently create and store most of my projects. In 2016 – 2018 I became the gallery director for Fractalfest, a psytrance music festival in upstate NY.
In 2017, I rebranded into Artifakt Studios, a full service creative agency, specializing in custom artwork, outdoor/indoor murals, logos/branding, product design, gallery curation, event deco & more. I hope to build this business over the next few years to incorporate a collective of artists, a diverse range of clients, and many more exciting projects in the future.
Please tell us about your art.
I create mixed media visual artwork, primarily in the realm of painting, both on canvas and on walls. I also utilize graphic design and illustration, as a way to blend analog mediums into the digital landscape, and add another dimension to the work. I’m inspired by psychedelia, skateboarding, graffiti, festival culture, experimental music, nature and technology. I wish to explore counter-cultural movements, as a re-emergence of the tribal tendencies of humanity, to pay homage to those who blazed the trail before us.
I am inspired most of all by people. Those with the courage to express their true selves, who pursue their passions to the fullest extent, despite fear, resistance or pain. To those who show love and support for artists, your gratitude makes all of this possible! Appreciation is the tipping point where the work becomes worthwhile, and I remember why I started in the first place.
Art is a very powerful tool, it’s a visual language which can communicate very abstract ideas or complex emotions, from one human to another, even between strangers with no prior relationship. I encourage everyone to cultivate a form of creative outlet within their lives, as I believe self-expression is profoundly therapeutic to the mind, body and soul. The ultimate work in progress will always be our inner selves, as art imitates life.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I define success as being able to make a modest living and support my family by creating my own artwork. I am currently a self-employed business owner, with my primary source of revenue being graphic design, branding, illustration and logos, but am steadily branching into commercial mural projects, which I enjoy much more. The goal would be to eventually move away from client work and freelancing, and more towards creating and selling my own personal artistic creations, granting more creative freedom and liberty to pursue my own ideas.
I think it’s essential to have both a business sense and creative sense, otherwise it’s impossible to make your passion financially viable. You will inevitably be broke at many points, and will question your decision and commitment to the craft, so persistence and patience are also key. It’s necessary to sacrifice large amounts of your free time to develop your skills enough that someone will pay you for them.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Facebook/Instagram – @RyanGardell @ArtifaktStudios
My portfolio can be found at ArtifaktStudios.com
Online store – ArtifaktStudios.etsy.com
I travel the Northeast US as a live painter, exhibitor and vendor, and post a schedule of which events I’ll be appearing at next. Occasionally I showcase in gallery or group exhibitions as well.
I teach monthly paint classes at the only legal cannabis friendly lounge in Massachusetts – The Summit Lounge – TheSummitPrivateLounge.com, where my art is also being featured for the next two months, starting 9/4.
Several public murals can be found and viewed, most notably at George’s Coney Island, in the city of Worcester, MA, an 80′ x 30′ piece painted for PowWow 2017 mural festival, in collaboration with fellow artist Kai Griffiths.
You can support my work by shopping through the online store, commissioning a canvas or mural, hiring for graphic design/logo work, or by purchasing original paintings.
Contact Info:
- Website: ArtifaktStudios.com
- Email: artifaktstudios@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ArtifaktStudios
- Facebook: @ArtifaktStudios
- Twitter: @ArtifaktStudios
- Other: ArtifaktStudios.etsy.com
Image Credit:
Ryan Gardell
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