Gretchen Ryan
Born in Boulder, Colorado, Gretchen Ryan creates portraits of young girls--often beauty pageant contestants--that disquietingly explore notions of objectification, precocious sexuality, and innocence. Going beyond straightforward portraiture, Ryan's work is informed by personal and cultural influences including her dedication to animal rights, 18th century British portraiture, Coast to Coast radio shows, nature publications, and children's fairy tale illustrations. Ryan's portraits successfully combine personal and societal subtext with the purity and beauty of youth.
- 1975
- Born in Boulder, Colorado
- 2011
- Lives and works in Los Angeles

Solo Exhibitions
- 2011
- New York | Fred Torres Collaborations | "Cheers In Heaven" | November 15 – January 7, 2012
- 2009
- New York | Fred Torres Collaborations | "Little Pretty" | April 3 - May 12

Group Exhibitions
- 2011
- New York | The Armory Show | Galerie Laurent Godin | March 3 - 6
- 2011
- New York | PULSE | Fred Torres Collaborations Booth A10 | March 3 - 6
- 2011
- New York | Ford Projects | "When the Fairytale Never Ends " | January 20 - February 18
- 2010
- Miami | PULSE | Fred Torres Collaborations Booth | December 1 - 4
- 2010
- Paris | Galerie Laurent Godin | "Serena Caron, Gretchen Ryan, Hidde van Schie " | June 30 - July 31
- 2010
- Bristol City, UK | Bristol City Museum | "Art from the New World" | May 15- August 22
- 2009
- New York | Johnathon Levine Gallery | "For True Self" curated by artist Gary Baseman | October 24 - November 21
- 2007
- Culver City, CA | Corey Helford Gallery | "Charity by Numbers" | February 10 - 17
- 2006
- Culver City, CA | Billy Shire Fine Arts | "Young Blood" | curated by Aaron Smith with Billy Shire | October 14 - November 11
- 2006
- Seattle, WA | Roq la Rue | "Ever After" | April
- 2006
- Boulder, CO | Blink Gallery
- 2006
- Atwater Village, CA | Black Maria Gallery | "Black Market at Black Maria: Skip the Mall" | November 19, 2005 - January 5, 2006
- 2005
- Los Angeles, CA | La Luz de Jesus Gallery | "The August Group" | August 5 - 28
- 2005
- Los Angeles, CA | La Luz de Jesus Gallery | "Everything but the Kitchen Sync" | March 4 - 27
- 2005
- Pasadena, CA | Art Center Gallery
- 2005
- Pasadena, CA | 105 Gallery
- 2003
- Downey, CA | Rancho Los Amigos
- 2000
- Orange, CA | Studio 152
- 1999
- Boulder, CO | Axis Mundi Arts
- 1998
- Santiago, Chile | Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

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