Ryan Dantuono

Artist Statement

The idea that people have multiple opposing facets is what drives the methodology behind my work. This duality and mix of contrasting emotions and ideas that reside within a single individual has inspired my focus on the figure, and has lent itself to my creative sensibilities. It is my belief that people are constantly at odds with themselves, ceaselessly coming at impasses between themselves and the society we live in. It is in this struggle that I find my inspiration of distilling these moments of internalized chaos into the emotive figures of my work.

I strive to encapsulate a feeling of light-hearted tension in my works by presenting the figure in direct contention to the colors I apply. My application of unnaturally vibrant hues that exaggerate and conflict with the stern, often poignant demeanor of my figures captures the strain and anxiety that is felt amongst all humans. By using non-traditional methods of directing humorous uses of contrasting colors and emotive line work, I call into attention the separation of how people look and feel.

This eclectic use of color juxtaposed to distorted figures gives my works an overall tension that forces the viewer to question the conflicting emotions that reside within these pieces. In my strokes I aspire for the viewer to perceive bits of themselves amongst the lines and colors, purposefully causing a moment of personal reflection. It is my hope, however, that when confronted with my work the viewer doesn’t find despair within my compositions, but rather finds solace in the jovial use of color. My art resides within the realm of the expressive, but to me it acts as the vehicle for my message giving way to a conversation between the spectator and myself.

B.F.A Drawing