Robert Ryman
(American, 1930-2019) Commonly identified with Minimalism, Robert Ryman’s work explores the manipulation of painting or printing media, often in white or off-white, to expose the face-value materiality of the applied substances. His monochromatic paintings and prints strive to blend concept and composition, suggesting that the purpose of painting is to entertain the eye through the…
Robert Ryman
(American, 1930-2019)
Commonly identified with Minimalism, Robert Ryman’s work explores the manipulation of painting or printing media, often in white or off-white, to expose the face-value materiality of the applied substances. His monochromatic paintings and prints strive to blend concept and composition, suggesting that the purpose of painting is to entertain the eye through the visual qualities of the material, the depth of the paint, light, and space. Ryman avoids creating illusions or references to reality, instead classifying himself as a “realist” due to his commitment to presenting honestly in virgin materials. Constantly experimenting with new media such as linen, steel, aluminum, plexiglas, lumasite, vinyl, fiberglass, and corrugated paper, he is committed to straying from familar comforts and investigates instead into uncharted territory in order to evolve his artistic practice. Ryman augments his subtle pieces by crafting individual hanging and framing devices, bringing into question the work of art and its placement within three dimensional gallery space.
Ryman’s work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions, including at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, and Halle für Internationale Neue Kunst in Zurich. Ryman exhibited in Documenta 5 in Kassel, the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1978, and 1980 and the Whitney Biennial in 1977, 1987, and 1995. His works are held in the collections of major museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Dia Art Foundation and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.