Gretchen Ryan is one of those people that you meet and instantly fall in love with, or at least I did. Her energy seems almost saint-like, above gossip and frowns. She also is supermodel gorgeous, a tremendous artist, sweet as pie, and genuinely seems to care deeply about every living creature. The fact that she’s in a wheelchair is an afterthought. Perhaps her angelic spirit was enriched by a car accident she suffered as a teenager, but I think she’s one of those rare conduits to art and beauty in a dark and backstabbin’ universe. The experience of being driven off a mountain cliff informs her incredible paintings by incorporating themes of human vulnerability, beauty in the absence of normality, and fixation on the perfection of youth. Gretchen’s portraits are both graceful and complex in their subject matter, and move you to question beauty and our obsession with it.
“I feel excited and happy, delighted, wonderful, confident, lovely, poised, beautiful and so much more. Being a Queen has made me feel like I am special. …Your thoughts determine what you want, your actions determine what you get.” — Anna Randolph, 2006 Tennessee Supreme Beauty
Gretchen’s first New York exhibition at Fred Torres Collaborations (527 West 29th Street), Little Pretty, is an exhibition of paintings and drawings. It will be on view from April 3rd through May 16th, 2009, and expect to see all the NYC Glitterati (including the GirlieGirl Army Generals) packing it in on opening night (Join us! *April 3rd from 6-8pm*) to get a glimpse of the LA artist’s luminous glow. Gretchen has created new portraits of child beauty pageant contestants for this exhibit. She started her career by painting her friend’s children, and in search of new models began frequenting children’s beauty pageants. Over the years, Ryan has developed close relationships with her models, and their families, often painting the same girl throughout her childhood. Ryan approaches her lushly layered canvases with deep respect for her models, and uses traditional portraiture techniques to capture golden ringlets, sparkling rhinestones, layers of tulle, and their bright, competitive spirits. Ryan’s paintings reflect society’s obsession with youth and beauty, and have quickly become a favorite of Hollywood celebrity elite.
Going beyond straightforward portraiture, her work is informed by personal and cultural influences including her dedication to animal rights, 18th century British portraiture, Coast to Coast radio shows, nature publications, and children’s fairy tale illustrations. These portraits successfully combine personal and societal subtext with the purity and beauty of youth. Born in Boulder, Colorado in 1975, Gretchen Ryan currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and four Chihuahuas; Rosie, Khane, Cal and Tyranny.
For more information on Gretchen; please see her website: www.GretchenRyan.com
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