Ryan Art Gallery is proud to present the latest works by Katie Crown, an artist who finds profound power in the whimsical and the human. This collection of paintings and metal sculptures captures the vibrant energy of the California coast alongside the quiet, complex rhythms of social life. Each piece is born from the intimate act of drawing—a lifelong habit for Crown—allowing her to explore how humor, color, and movement can transform the stresses of modern living into a source of light.

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In this series, the "group setting" is more than a subject; it becomes a space of reflection and shared vulnerability. Whether depicting a crowded shoreline in her Beach Noir oil paintings or an audience of faces, Crown navigates the delicate boundary between being present with others and the internal feeling of being apart. Her characters are treated with a gentle, cartoon-inspired humor, their essence captured through a unique blend of spontaneous hand-drawn lines and industrial precision. By balancing the "fun" energy of her sketchbook origins with the solid strength of quarter-inch-thick aluminum, Crown shows both the fragility and the resilience present in our everyday interactions.

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For Crown, these figures are more than just depictions of people; they are symbols of the modern human experience and the beauty found in our shared awkwardness. Inspired by the wire sculptures of Alexander Calder and the high-energy glow of neon signs, her metal works utilize computer-controlled cutting to preserve the fluid, organic character of a pen-and-ink sketch. These larger-than-life characters hang away from the wall, allowing shadows to become part of the impact and inviting viewers to experience her world eye-to-eye. Her paintings further this exploration by placing figures in geometric landscapes of sand and waves, playing patterns against one another to achieve a dissolution of matter reminiscent of oriental art.

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Through this collection, Katie Crown invites viewers to notice the small, often overlooked moments of human connection and the "noir" undertones of the sun-drenched beach. The works are not merely visual images but experiences that encourage a closer, more empathetic connection with the people around us. They open a space for sanctuary, for finding joy in the complexities of our social lives, and for recognizing that even when we feel unique and alone in a crowd, we are part of a larger, colorful pattern of life.

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Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, February 7th, from 12 to 2 PM