Kristi Ryba, a South Carolina based artist who explores contemporary events and messages of morality, will stir the pot as the Gibbes Museum of Art’s Visiting Artist in September.
Since the November 2016 election, Ryba began to substitute photographs of Trump and his administration, family, and tweets and quotes into existing manuscripts and altarpieces that depict, illuminate or illustrate what she believes to be a corrupt nature of this government. Ryba uses 22k gold leaf and the elaborate skill of handmade egg tempera painting to create narrative works of art on wooden panels. This technique is used to replicate the look of early religious imagery.
“The Disputation of St. Christine (Blasey Ford), after Masolino” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 36” x 24” x 2”
“Pope Sixtus IV, after Melozzo del Forli” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 40” x 36” x 2 ¼”
“Tree Of Consanguinity, Kinship and Affinitiy” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 40” x 36” x 2 ½”
Ryba will host open studio hours on Wednesdays from 2-7pm and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Museum visitors will experience the different stages of one of her paintings; how she lays out the composition, prepares the painting supports, grinds the pigment and applies gold leaf to envelop the final piece in regalia.
Portrait of Kristi Ryba by Paige Schaberg
Ryba received a BA, Magna Cum Laude, in 1988 from the College of Charleston and an MFA from Vermont College, Montpelier, VT, in 2006. Ryba recently had work included in the 2017 and 2015 “701 CAA SC Biennial”, held at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC, and was the Second Place winner of the 2016 ArtFields competition in Lake City, SC, winning the $25,000 award. Her cover image on the 2017 Nov. issue of “Carolina Arts” was the most popular cover in its 32 year history. She is represented locally by Corrigan Gallery LLC, located at 7 Broad Street in Charleston . For further info about the artists visit (www.kristiryba.com).
For further information call the Museum at 843/722-2706 or visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).