Ryan Hogan (along with Jaime Raybin) was one of our featured Dance Your Art Out artists at the first party we threw. To use a word such as “fascinating” to describe Ryan’s unique style of sculpture-based installation art is too banal, and does not justly articulate how galvanizing his work actually is. Each piece is singularly provocative, piquing, and complex. As observers, we expect artists to make strong statements-to challenge us in affecting ways. Clearly, Ryan Hogan is on course to become a leader in this realm. Below are eight questions we asked Ryan in an attempt to get a closer look at his talent. Hope you enjoy.
How did you get started in the world of art?
By making Ewok [the character from Star Wars: Episode VI-Return Of The Jedi] costumes at the age of five. In all seriousness, I’m still in very formative stages, so I guess I’m still getting started. I took classes in high school and produced poorly informed, juvenile art. For whatever reason, I studied art in college. I feel like I have to show something for that time spent on a degree. So, here I am today.
When did you first become interested in creating visual pieces, and begin dabbling in artistic pursuits?
I think I alluded to this in the previous question. It’s hard for me to remember a time when I wasn’t making something or working on a project. My parents instilled this in me. When we don’t have something, we make it. My mother is a talented seamstress and my father is an artisan in his own right. Growing up, I would play with legos and erector sets. As I got older, I would continue to construct things, weather it happened to be a small scale model or a disfunctional hover craft. I think this all somehow translates into what I do now. It’s a lot of playing around and not knowing what to expect.
Who are your biggest influences? What artists have inspired and shaped you the most?
There are artists I like and artists I try to mimic. Joseph Beuys is an artist I like. Eva Hesse is an artist I try to mimic. [continue reading…]
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