Rob Ryan’s distinctive silhouette-style imagery is the result of the intricate hand-cutting of delicate papers. Having been a screen-printer for years before he started the minutely detailed paper and laser-cuts, Ryan wanted to do something simpler that wasn’t about colour or perspective but rather about silhouette and shape; the result is the beautifully crafted imagery that he has become known for. For most admirers of his work, the attraction is equally to do with subject matter as the execution.
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A recent interview with The Guardian newspaper asked if Ryan was ‘The most romantic man in the UK’ due to the love stories he lovingly cuts out in his pieces. A recent screenprint, titled ‘My Home’ (taken from an original paper cut as all his prints are) says “My home will have no windows doors or floors nor bricks or mortar. My only home is in your arms and nowhere else”. Other titles such as ‘You Are My Universe’ and ‘Our Story’ are equally as enchanting - whisking the viewer away into a world of utopian nostalgia that anyone who has ever been in love can relate to.
Well known in the fashion industry, mainly for his collaboration with Paul Smith on limited edition ceramics and childrenswear, his imagery has appeared many times in Vogue and Elle, and he has been commissioned by National newspapers such as The Independent for specialist projects. His work graces the cover of many books, including a few of his own such as ‘This Is For You’ and ‘The Gift’; fairy tale stories told through paper-cut art. Other collaborations have been with high profile retail outlets Liberty, Urban Outfitters, Tatty Devine and Fortnum & Mason, as well as John Lewis, who have launched an exclusive Rob Ryan range featuring notepads, mugs and vases. In 2008 he opened his own shop, ‘Ryantown’ on London’s Columbia Road, which stocks an array of merchandise including cushions, mugs, and greeting cards, all displaying Ryan’s recognisable compositions.
Born in Cyprus in 1962, Rob Ryan studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent Polytechnic followed by MA Printmaking at the Royal College of Art. In 2009 he exhibited at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and was part of a major museum show ‘Slash – Paper Under the Knife’ at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. In 2010 he had a major solo show in London where original paper cuts were bought by high profile collectors. He currently lives and works in London.