NAME: Ryan Roberts
BIRTH PLACE: Chicago
BIRTH DATE: 6.30.77
BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in the small town of Conklin, Michigan, Ryan Roberts' interest in photography ignited while taking a black and white photo course at a local community college in 1997. There he began experimenting with timed exposure and multiple negative exposures, unaware of the integral part it would play in his work years down the road.
Ryan went on to complete his BFA in graphic design at Western Michigan University in 1999 and, soon afterwards, made his big move to the city of Chicago in pursuit of exploring careers in photography, design and music.
While establishing himself in Chicago, Ryan helped create a promotional media company, Illmeasures, with fellow designers, producers and artists in the community.
By 2003, after focusing on graphic design and music projects, Ryan found himself drawn back to his passion for photography. The majority of his work focused on macro photography while continuing with timed exposures.
In 2005, Ryan began showing his photography in alternative art spaces and curatorial exhibitions within the Chicago area.
Ryan's most recent shows include the Focus on Chicago exhibition with the 33 Collective Gallery at the Zhou B Center in March of 2007, the 2007 Artwalk Ravenswood, Around The Coyote 2007 fall festival and Looptopia in spring of 2008.
In recent years, Ryan has been focusing on four main bodies of work which include mixed vintage and vinyl toy photography, urban pop which incorporates found art, experimental nature and architectural timed exposures and his Siren series of mannequins.
Currently, Ryan is developing a book featuring his toy photography which reflects the cross cultures of eastern and western pop toy culture especially evident in Japan and the United States. In addition, Ryan is constructing a gallery in which to feature his photography as well as showcase the work of other local Chicago artists. The gallery is set to open this October.
Outside of photography, Ryan has also co-created a T-shirt company called Tri-polar, plays bass in various local Chicago bands, continues his work in graphic design and never loses his love of toys and everything ninja.
