India, 2010, gelatin silver print, 18 x 12 inches, edition of three

“Everybody Knows this is Nowhere” is the name of the show that just ended at Team Gallery. I was lucky enough to hear the artist speak about his work. Both large color and smaller black and white photographs were on view. I was immediately drawn to the small portraits of young people in their teens and twenties. Each work captures the essence of the sitter and the Bohemian nature of youth. There is clearly a connection that developed between the sitter and artist as all of his models are nude and spent a good amount of time in his studio getting comfortable with the notion of being photographed. Hung in a large grouping the viewer’s eye darts back and forth from image to image until it stops upon a particular detail or facial expression that draws one in. Ryan, the artist, was very humble but poised and articulate. It is clear that he loves what he does. Coming from a large family, he feels close to all of his models and considers them “family.” Ryan’s work became even more intriguing with the anecdotes he shared with us about many of the sitters and the “perfect moment” when he captured their essence. It made me want to have my picture taken by him–unfortunately, my youth does not spring eternal and I fear I have passed the age limit for his portraits.

Michael, 2010, gelatin silver print, 18 x 12 inches, edition of three