STUDIO
Ryan’s studio practice informs all of his work, from fine art to mural painting.
See below for select paintings and drop a line if you’d like to learn what’s currently available for purchase.
‘For Us and For Them’, Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 36” Diameter, 2024
‘Awkward…’, Spray Paint On Wood Panel, 8" x 10", 2024
‘Bad And Boujee’, Collage and Acrylic On Wood Panel, 8" x 10", 2024
'So It Goes', Spray Paint on Wooden Panel, 9" x 12", 2023
'The Triangle is the Strongest Shape Found in Nature', acrylic gouache on wooden panel, 24" triangle, 2023
‘Unlike The Others’, Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 36”, 2022
‘Be Sure’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 24” x 20,” 2020
‘Never Do What They Do', Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 48," 2021
‘Beat The Odds’, Acrylic and Gouache on Canvas, 36” x 36”, 2023
‘I Believe It’, Spray Paint On Wood Panel, 8" x 10", 2024
‘I’ll Think About It’, Spray Paint on Wooden Panel, 8” x 10”, 2023
‘No Thing Stays’, Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 36” Diameter, 2022
‘Grip It N’ Rip It’, Acrylic On Wood Panel, 10" x 10", 2024
‘Find A Way’, Acrylic, Latex and Spray Paint on Wooden Panel, 24” x 24," 2022
‘Hold On’, Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 20” x 20,” 2022
‘It’s All For You’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 48”, 2022
‘Out Grow’, Spray Paint on Wooden Panel, 36” x 48”, 2022
‘They Don’t Care’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 20" x 24”, 2021
‘This Is Black Art’, Lettering Enamel and Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 48,” 2021
‘You Good?’, Pencil and Acrylic Paint on Wooden Panel, 24” x 24,” 2021
‘The World Is Theirs’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Wooden Panel, 24” x 24,” 2021
‘I Just Want To Be’, Acrylic On Wood Panel, 30" diameter, 2024
‘Slow Down’, Acrylic and spray paint on wood panel, 24” x 24,” 2024
'Second Hand Grief', acrylic and spray paint on wood panel, 24" x 24", 2024
‘Upside-Down and Inside-Out’, Acrylic and spray paint on wood panel, 16” x 16,” 2024
‘But You Can’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 30” x 36", 2021
‘Bruh’, Spray Paint on Wooden Panel, 20” x 24,” 2020
‘Don’t Lose You’, Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 48,” 2022
‘Everything Goes’, Acrylic and Gouache on Canvas, 36” x 36,” 2022
‘Why Did I Say Yes To That’, Spray Paint on Wood Panel, 8” x 10,” 2024
artist statement
My ‘gem’ style of work was developed through the study of letterforms and the layering techniques used in experimenting with spray paint to add shadows and highlights to create depth and movement throughout the pieces. The backbone of the work is lettering, so this affords the opportunity to directly convey a statement or saying within the piece that is camouflaged within the bending and intertwining geometric shapes. I often try to take that opportunity to express a thought or bit of knowledge that draws from lessons learned from diverse array of life experiences. The fact that there is a statement masked within the piece adds a layer to the viewing experience in which the audience becomes directly involved in trying to decipher the message within the piece.
This interactive and immersive viewing experience is shared with the Cubist and American Graffiti movements that heavily influence this style of work. The duality of the work, being viewed as a geometric abstraction while also including a direct statement, is exhibited in the naming of the ‘gem’ style. It alludes to the dimensional shapes reflecting the look of natural gemstones and also alludes to the slang term of ‘gems’ meaning an important piece of knowledge handed down through a witty statement.
— RYAN ADAMS
SELECT SHOWS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Second Season, NOTCH8 GALLERY, Portland, ME | October 2022
Lessons, CENTER FOR MAINE CONTEMPORARY ART, Rockland, ME | October 2021
Sometime, I’ll Have Some Time, ROCHESTER MUSEUM OF FINE ART, Rochester, NH | September 2021
You Can’t Unsee, SPACE GALLERY, Portland, ME | August 2020
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
Paint Pals, SPACE GALLERY Portland, ME | March 2022
Tr4pped, NEW SYSTEMS EXHIBITIONS, Portland, ME | September 2021
Untitled, 2020 Art From Maine In A _____ Time, PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART, Portland, ME | March 2021
Acoustic Resonance, THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Portland, ME | October 2020
Terrible Twos, CURATION 250, Lowell, MA | November 2019
Maternity Leave, GALLERY 49, Portland, ME | January 2017
Good Company, VAN ZEE SIGN CO., Brooklyn, NY | March 2015
Situations, GOOD LIFE, Boston, MA | February 2015
Some Kind of Way, Thomas Young Gallery, Boston, MA | September 2014
CURATION
PIECE TOGETHER PROJECT | Portland, ME | 2020 – Ongoing
A series of portrait murals featuring members of the Portland community. Collaboration project with Rachel Adams
ODE TO LETTERS | Biddeford, ME | July 2015
Letter-based group show featuring sign painters, text designers, letterpress artists and graffiti artists.
GREETINGS FROM PORTLAND MURAL | Portland, ME | July 2013
Large-scale mural consisting of 30+ muralists.
STEPHEN KING TRIBUTE MURAL | Portland, ME | July 2010
Large-scale tribute to Stephen King mural involving over 20 muralists.
RESIDENCIES
University of Southern Maine | Gorham, ME | Winter/Spring 2024
Surf Point | York, ME | January 2022
Hewnoaks Artist Residency | Lovell, ME | August 2021
Indigo Arts Alliance | Portland, ME | March 2021
EXPERIENCE
ELLIS-BEAUREGARD FOUNDATION | Board Vice President | 2021 – Present
PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE | Board Member | 2020 - 2023