1996–2000
Continuing his Self series from the early 1990s, Ryan began by inking parts of his body and wrapping them with sheets of wet rice paper to pull multiple impressions directly from his skin. Once dry, these impressions became the basis for pencil drawings on Mylar, their delicate surfaces reflecting his sensitivity to material. Unlike earlier works in Self, these images take on a spectral quality, functioning less as self-portraits than as ghostly echoes of loved ones lost or fragments of collective memory. In this way, the body becomes both an index and vessel of presence.
Installation at Rockford Art Museum
Installation at Rockford Art Museum
Installation at Rockford Art Museum
![[BP2] Cwazy Wabbit-left arm/hand-self, 1996-98 graphite on Mylar over colored board 33.5 x 26 x 1.5 in (85.09 x 66.04 x 3.81 cm)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c9f52bd8-ba8a-4d6d-a8ad-7632647eb9b1/3c503d03-0f8c-4c30-902b-139579a54c76_rw_1200.jpg?h=2a59e5a16ed82eb36cdfe73d96786ddb)
[BP2] Cwazy Wabbit-left arm/hand-self, 1996-98 graphite on Mylar over colored board 33.5 x 26 x 1.5 in (85.09 x 66.04 x 3.81 cm)
![[BP3] Butch On/Under Foot, 2000 graphite on Mylar over colored board Framed: 20.25 x 28.25 x 1.25 in (51.44 x 71.76 x 3.18 cm)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c9f52bd8-ba8a-4d6d-a8ad-7632647eb9b1/c4f7db5f-eaa1-4883-b2e2-e06487c89f03_rw_1920.jpeg?h=bebc2161fdf04c8849b6d5dd7b8b64fa)
[BP3] Butch On/Under Foot, 2000 graphite on Mylar over colored board Framed: 20.25 x 28.25 x 1.25 in (51.44 x 71.76 x 3.18 cm)
![[BP1] Mother Squirrel Angel-right foot-self, 1996-99 graphite on Mylar over colored board Framed: 21.25 x 25.75 x 1.5 in (53.98 x 65.41 x 3.81 cm)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c9f52bd8-ba8a-4d6d-a8ad-7632647eb9b1/29f4ec20-8d07-44b4-be36-c33e5e83c2f9_rw_3840.jpg?h=06df0a858d094471f7c6c3cf4c4c233d)
[BP1] Mother Squirrel Angel-right foot-self, 1996-99 graphite on Mylar over colored board Framed: 21.25 x 25.75 x 1.5 in (53.98 x 65.41 x 3.81 cm)
![[BP5] Lambchop-right knee-self, 2000 graphite on Mylar over colored board Framed: 20.25 x 17.75 x 1.25 in (51.44 x 45.09 x 3.18 cm)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c9f52bd8-ba8a-4d6d-a8ad-7632647eb9b1/2ed60416-5225-4087-9e10-f5c332d60e56_rw_1920.jpeg?h=564f2c769eb6ec375643ad2086840062)