RICHMOND, VA.- The University of Richmond Museums presents Birds & Poppies: Large-Scale Woodcuts by Richard Ryan on view January 16 through July 2, 2018, in the Harnett Museum of Art. 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.

Ryan is Associate Professor of Art, Painting, at Boston University. He has been a visiting artist at numerous academic institutions nationwide and received many awards and grants for his work including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship Grant. His artwork has been included in one-person and group exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, Boston, among others.

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.

Organized by the University of Richmond Museums and curated by Richard Waller, Executive Director, University Museums, the exhibition is made possible in part with funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund.