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Courtney N. Ryan is a ceramic artist and professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, Georgia. Her work draws inspiration from the diverse materials found in nature, such as rocks, seeds, flora, and shells.
In her current body of work, known as “Travelers,” Ryan utilizes clay to create both wall-mounted and freestanding sculptural forms, each distinct and individualized, showcasing a variety of naturally inspired shapes, colors, and textures. The forms often repeat and duplicate, emphasizing both uniqueness and a sense of continuity in nature. This interplay between singularity and repetition mirrors the diversity and patterns Ryan has observed in the organic life she is drawn to gather, observe, and recreate.
During her two-month residency at the NES Artist Residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland, Ryan will further develop her project, “Travelers and Company: Light and Shape in Iceland’s Midnight Summer Sun.” This project, initiated in 2022, has been partially funded by a Presidential Fellowship for Faculty Development from SCAD for the past two consecutive academic years. The project aims to explore the interaction of light and form, through clay sculpture, watercolor, photography, artist book, video, and writing.
Ryan has exhibited and presented her work at numerous venues, including The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington, DE; Swan Coach House in Atlanta, GA; Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH; SCAD University in Atlanta, GA; Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL; Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC; Westobou Gallery in Augusta, GA; Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA; University of Georgia in Athens, GA; MINT Gallery in Atlanta, GA; and Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT. Internationally, she has showcased her work at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland; Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford, Ireland, and NES Artist Residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland.
Website: www.courtneynryan.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/courtneynryan/