REDWOOD CITY, CA.- Fung Collaboratives is thrilled to announced its newest exhibition in the Art Kiosk, Redwood City, CA titled Coming Home by Bay Area artist Ryan Carrington. They exhibition is free to the public with a closing date of September 7th and reception for the artist on September 6th at 4 p.m.

In his Coming Home exhibition at the Redwood City Art Kiosk, Carrington utilizes classic symbols of Americana to explore the ever-shifting definition of the American Dream. His textile work specifically investigates the rich conceptual history that pre-worn garments and iconic patterns, such as gingham, have to share. Through using the uniforms of blue and white-collar workers to create American flags, he provides a conduit for empathy between our stratified society by inspiring dialogue across communities of people that represent the far-reaching corners of our culture, history, and socioeconomic status.

Growing up in the Midwest, Carrington considers the classic gingham plaid tablecloth a quintessential nostalgic part of American culture. For him, the checkerboard red, white, and pink design is associated with the smell of grilling meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and being together with family. At nearly 30 feet, the immense scale of the work is both a testament to the historical significance of patterns, as well as the work that lies ahead for our country. We are in a moment of reflection and recontextualization of what it means to be an American, and Carrington’s piece brings forth both a reverence for the past, as well as a call for a renewed faith in a future American identity.

Carrington further utilizes familiar symbols of American barbeque culture in his piece titled after his grandmother, Grandma Mae. Created with a plywood crust and necktie filling, this representation of an iconic American dessert brings together both blue and white-collar materials in a hopeful mix from different socio-economic statuses. Additionally, the larger-than-life shift in scale raises the level of importance of these future hypothetical conversations and collaborations.

The final element entitled Larry, after his father, highlights Carrington’s upbringing in a hardworking family in Wisconsin by utilizing exceptional precision and craftsmanship with the everyday materials of plywood and plumbing parts. It’s an homage to simpler times and the power of a grill to gather friends and family together, while also inviting the viewer into the fold to share their experience.

Ryan Carrington grew up in a family that values labor, hard work, and creating with one’s hands. At the heart of his practice lies a quiet homage to the modern-day craftsman and tradesman. His work bridges issues of labor, class, work ethic and economics with his personal and family history. In his studio he delves deep into the processes that parallel the monotony and tedium that laborers endure.

Through his art, he sheds light on a corner of society with a rich history of craftsmanship, process, and precision. By nurturing a fresh fascination of tools and materials, he provokes consideration of how we value each other in our ever-changing community.

Carrington is a Teaching Professor at Santa Clara University, where he has been teaching since 2012. He exhibits his work nationally and has created multiple large-scale public art commissions. In 2014 he received the Silicon Valley Creates Emerging Artist Laureate Award, was selected for the 2021 Center for the Arts and Humanities Fellowship at Santa Clara University, and in 2024 won the Dr. David Logothetti Teaching Excellence Award.

The Art Kiosk aims to bring thought-provoking installations and public art to Redwood City and the Bay Area through eight, six week-long exhibitions throughout 2025. Artists from the Bay Area and around the world have been invited to realize their ambitious, site-specific artworks for our audience to enjoy. The initiative was conceived and is curated by Lance M. Fung.