Ryan Karpinsky
Frankfurt-born artist Ryan Karpinsky crafts each painting as a testament to his journey. Each canvas he produces is a mélange of his past experiences and the profound revelations that have shaped his worldview.
Growing up as an "American abroad", Ryan's nomadic life was punctuated by uncertainty, a feeling further intensified by the commanding, loving presence of his father, an army officer. This sense of not being in control became an intrinsic part of his identity. But as he ventured into adulthood, he sought solace in familiar paths, only to find himself lost in a maze of choices. This tumultuous phase saw him grappling with life and its meaning, a consequence of his quest for escape.
However, amidst the chaos, a profound revelation with God brought clarity to Ryan (the Lord heard the voice of my affliction, and helped me Deuteronomy 26:7). He began to perceive God not just in binaries but as a creator of every intricate paradox of reality. This spiritual awakening led him to embrace God and express himself through art. Ryan's paintings, bursting with passion, reflect this sentiment. He believes in the dichotomies of life, where freedom intertwines with control, and the resulting harmonies become evident when one truly understands their journey.
Moreover, Ryan's journey didn't stop with personal transformation. Drawing from his own experiences, he continues aiming to unlock the lives of those trapped by the consequences of their choices. His past became a beacon, giving him the opportunity to spend time pointing those without hope in a better direction toward peace and happiness. Telling them about the consequences of their actions, God, and all that is Truth: and being honest about what brought them here.
His art aims to lose the viewer in its depth, urging them to confront their perceptions and accept the unknown.
Ryan's style is a blend of semi-abstract, consequence-based art, where every brushstroke and hue represents actions and events of a specific day. He employs vintage oil paints, paying homage to the legacies of past artists. This approach, rooted in deconstructivism, prioritizes intuition and feeling. He often plays with elements of emptiness and structure, drawing inspiration from structure and architecture. His work's recurring motif of a dense blue sky symbolizes infinity, eternity, and a nod to his transformative spiritual encounter.
Influenced heavily by Giorgio de Chirico’s metaphysical period, Ryan often ponders, "What shall I love if not the enigma?". Through his art, he invites viewers to embark on a journey of introspection, discovering their own enigmas and the stories they tell.
