Marco Ryan is an experimental visual artist from Melbournes Ãnner West.
His images are created primarily in oil and acrylic, on found/recycled plywood panels. Each piece begins with an exploration of texture before figures and subject are revealed. Further detail is added with charcoal, oil stick, wax pastel and spray paint. A process untrained, informal and experimental: one image began with thrown, cooked spaghetti as a spray stencil.
Using art making as a meditative tool, the world recedes as colours blend and textures are revealed. A process intuitive and untrained, creation becomes an internal alchemy: the transmutation of trauma to healing.
Inspired by modern street art, the painterly comic artists Dave McKean, Simon Bisley, Jason Shaun Alexander and Kent Williams, and the nightmare surrealists H.R. Giger and Beksinski.
After initially studying Fine Arts, Marco found a successful career in nursery horticulture which continued for two decades. After an escalation in substance addiction led to homelessness he rediscovered art-making as a therapeutic tool. His creativity became essential to healing from the trauma of this experience.