Birds & Poppies: Large-Scale Woodcuts by Richard Ryan

The University of Richmond Museums presents Birds & Poppies: Large-Scale Woodcuts by Richard Ryan. Richard Ryan (American, born England, 1950) is a contemporary artist based in Massachusetts. The works in this exhibition demonstrate Ryan’s approach to the large-scale woodcut. Each print is the result of his exploration of images as simple as a vase with nine poppies and elegant birds seen in profile.

In discussing the Nine Blue Poppies print, the artist wrote, “The woodcut project began as a gouache study for a large painting. That year was a good year for our poppy plants: the flowers were large and particularly malevolent.” He continues to explain how their dark beauty generated thoughts of “various forms of meanings, ironies, and paradoxes. I thought this would do for a start.” The bon à tirer prints in this exhibition are from the Center Street Studio Archives in the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center, University Museums.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website