ryan agnew nearly

"Ryan makes things. Sometimes Ryan performs. When Ryan is not performing, the things he makes perform, or at least reference performance. What Ryan makes is often silly, disturbing, exaggerated, colorful, revolting, ridiculous, sad, and hopeful. Often he is transforming objects that we all know but don’t think much about: garden hoses, Crisco, a child’s bed, baby wipes, a plunger, Cheese Doodles. In his hands or by his hands these objects can become cartoons of themselves or be twisted into talismans. Ryan’s work is made with a child’s faith, fervor and fear. It bears witness to the possibility of a human life, while simultaneously documenting its inevitable failures. It is personal, it is Ryan, but it also connects us to our own unease and uncertainty. It reminds us of both the power and fragility of our bodies and our will. Ryan tells us of how nearly he is, how nearly we all are. Nearly potent, nearly impotent. Nearly liquid, nearly solid. Nearly transformed."

-Ian Williams

from Nearly: Kate Joranson, Ryan Agnew, Ian Ruffino / text by Ian Williams.
Columbus, Ohio : Mahan Gallery, 2005.