Ryan Crotty

Ryan Crotty’s paintings are characterized by canvases filled with expansive fields of vibrant, coalescing colors. His works are devoid of representational imagery, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the pure experience of color. Crotty’smastery of color and his understanding of its emotive power are central to his work.

Using unconventional painting techniques, Crotty creates luminous compositions of color that spread out beyond the edges of the canvas. His process involves layers of acrylic and translucent gloss gel applied on top of another. He manipulates the pigment by pulling it across the canvas with a blade, smoothing and dragging it across the surface, creating subtle variations and transitions of color and texture. Crotty’s technique celebrates aberrations where raw textures are visible and surplus pigment spill over the canvas’s edge and form droplets that mirror melted wax. Crotty purposely reveals his paintings as a physical object, highlighting the manual process of the painting, where the technique is the essence of the work. 

Crotty’s paintings convey a sense of depth and luminosity. His technique gives the impression that the colors are floating, as if they possess an inner light. The absence of visible brushstrokes and the glossy finish further enhance the smooth and ethereal quality, allowing the colors to appear weightless and sublime. 

Crotty’s paintings have a hypnotic and immersive quality. His canvases envelop the viewer, creating a sense of being engulfed in color. His palette consists of intense and luminous hues, such as deep reds, rich blues, vibrant yellows, and velvety purples. The juxtaposition of different colors and their relationships to one another are crucial in achieving anemotional impact. Crotty establishes a direct and intimate relationship between the viewer and the artwork. The absence of recognizable imagery prompts viewers to reflect on their own subjective experiences and emotions, where the expansive fields of color become open spaces for contemplation and introspection. Crotty creates a dialogue between the viewer and the canvas, where the colors serve as conduits for emotional and spiritual connection, inviting a deeper level of engagement. 

Crotty earned his BFA in painting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his MFA in painting from Syracuse University. He has exhibited work in Nebraska, as well as New York, Chicago and Berlin. Central to his practice is time and experimentation in his studio in Auburn, NE where he resides with his family.