LAUNCH LA is proud to present, Random Acts of Fire, Ryan McCann’s latest exhibition. Working in a wide array of mediums - from traditional painting to a pioneered technique known as pyrography - McCann draws influence from modern painters such as Baldessari and Ruscha to produce satirical commentaries on popular culture. These works demonstrate and embrace the narrative potential of images and the associative power of language within the boundaries of the work of art.
A departure from his previous body of work, Random Acts of Fire features a photographic process that embraces the chaos of abstraction. According to McCann, “these are all raw images captured entirely in camera. There is no post-production or digital manipulation of the work. This process allows for the unexpected to occur giving them a life and energy that is truthful to the moment, cutting through what is on the surface and leaving you with all you need to know.”
Reminiscent of Gerhard Richter’s blurred paintings, McCann’s photographic technique visually translates like an eruption of brush strokes; the clarity of the medium melts away leaving him to capture the raw energy of his subjects, sometimes on fire, in the snap of a moment. This collection of work conveys a sense of imprecision, transience, anonymity and soul.
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Ryan McCann Bio
Ryan McCann’s body of work is a visually engaging play between hands on honesty and the edge of experimentation. Both imaginative and innovative, he combines a range of techniques and source materials to ambiguously attack popular culture while navigating socio-political truths.
McCann creates through various mediums: painting, sculpture, photography, as well as making work with fire using a technique called Pyrography n. : From the Greek ‘pur’ (fire) and ‘graphos’ (writing); the art or technique of decorating wood by burning a design on the surface with a blowtorch.
Notable commissions include Gibson Guitars, Patron Tequila, World Champion New Orleans Saints, and the private collections of NBA legend Jerry West, Atlantic/Lava Records, UCLA Hall of Fame and Quincy Jones.
Ryan has exhibited nationally and internationally, including SCOPE Miami and Art Basel. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.