Weldon Ryan (b.1962) was born in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Graduate of the H.S. of Art and
Design 1981and attended the State University at New Paltz, 1981- 82, Attended Fashion Institute of
Technology, 1982 – 85. Graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1985, A.A. In General Illustration.
Interned at Quarto Book Publishing 1985-1986, freelance comp artist for Ad Agencies. 1987 to 1989 NYC
Urban Park Ranger. In 1989 worked for NYPD as a Police Officer and Forensic Artist Unit in 1994 till
retirement in 2004 now resides in Palm Coast, Florida.

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Artist Statement

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I consider myself a realist painter painting contemporary images in a post expressionist world of art. I prefer
painting large for the freedom and excitement it creates. I do not frame my paints because they are self-
contained within their edges. I prefer gallery wraps or thicker stretchers to encompass my work. I mostly paint figurative and usually feature the West Indian Carnival and scenes which has greater worldwide acceptance.

Carnival is a joyful and exceptional celebration or fete which is multicultural deriving from the exclusion of the indentured and the enslaved. It is an atypical subject matter unusual to most venues casting me into a new genre. I work in oil and sometimes use acrylics in my backgrounds. My solid color backgrounds are intended on bringing the viewer into the celebration of the fete of Carnival. I feel it’s important to crop tighter and not be traditional about my composition. Excluded parts of the anatomy or item provides the viewer to also create in their mind the continuity of the painting expanding the viewer’s imagination at the edges causing involuntary participation by the viewer. Carnival is about the celebration and the abandonment of rules which also work in this regard. I’m also challenged by the human anatomy and the natural world. I must sculpt; in a two-dimensional plane, the illusion of depth using light and color as my chisel applied by my brush. I also sculpt 3 dimensional which enhance my understanding of forms.

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EXHIBITED:

• Stone Sparrow NYC, Art Gallery, NYC, NY- Solo Exhibition
• Men Painting Women, Daytona Beach, Fl. - 2022 Group Exhibition
• The Ritz Theatre and Museum, Jacksonville, Fl - 2022 Group Exhibition
• Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, Fl - 2022 Group Shop
• FLAG(Florida Artist Group, Org), FSU, Jacksonville, Fl. - 2022 Group Exhibition
• Museum of DeLand, FL 2022 Solo Exhibition
• Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Daytona Beach, FL, - 2022 Solo Exhibition
• Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Orlando, FL - 2022 Group Exhibition
• The RITZ Theater and Museum, Jacksonville, FL - 2021 Group Exhibition
• Art & History Museum Maitland, FL - 2021 Group Exhibition
• Stone Sparrow NYC art Gallery, New York, NY. - 2021
• Gallery Guichard, Chicago, IL. - 2021
• Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona, Fl. - 2019
• Florida Artist Group, Duedin, FL. 2021
• Art Fort Lauderdale Art Fair, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. - 2020
• Nelson Mandela Bay Museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa - 2018-2020
• Oasis Miami Broward Carnival Launch Pop-Up show, Miami, FL. - 2019
• Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona, FL. - 2019
• WIADCA Carnival Event Guest Artist, NY, - 2019
• Bronze Kingdom Museum and Art Gallery, Orlando, FL. - 2019
• The Ritz Museum, Jacksonville, FL. - 2018
• Gallery at Avalon Island, Orlando, Fl .- 2018
• Adriala Gallery Brooklyn, NY. 2018
• The Ritz Museum, Jacksonville, FL. - 2017
• Kroma Art Gallery, Miami, FL. - 2017

• Art Basel Spectrum, Miami, FL - 2017
• Calypso Fine Art Gallery, FL - 2016 - 2017
• Clover’s Fine Art Gallery, BKLYN, NY - 2016
• Ritz Theater and Museum, FL - 2016
• Clover’s Fine Art Gallery, BKLYN, NY - 2015
• SALVO Project 2015 - 2016
• The Peabody Rose Gallery, FL - 2015
• Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Education Center, FL - 2014
• Daytona State College, FL - 2014
• Mary McLeod-Bethune PACVAG, FL 2012, - 2013
• The African American Museum of the Arts, FL - 2012
• SEACCA Tree Studio - 2010 - 2015
• The Hollingsworth Gallery, FL 2011
• The Flagler Art League, FL - 2005- 2010
• DUMBO, Weldon Ryan Studio, Brooklyn - 1995 - 2002
• The Skylight Gallery, Brooklyn 2000
• The Fulton Street Art Fair, Brooklyn 1999
• The Salmagundi, Dale Meyers Cooper medallion Award, NY - 1993
• Diorama art Pelham Bay Environmental Nature Center, NY - 1988
• The Fashion Institute of Technology, NY - 1983
• The Bronx River Art Center, NY - 1980

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TV APPEARANCES:

• WDSC 15 Painting Florida with Weldon Ryan - 2016
• Dave Chapelle Show (art for a skit)
• The Rikki Lake Show for his art skills
• The Geraldo Rivera Show
• CNN
• Nature of The Arts BCAT

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PUBLICATION:

• American Art Collectors Magazine
• American Art Collectors Magazine
• American Art Collectors Magazine December 2019
• American Art Collectors Magazine December 2017
• Nickelodeon Magazine April 1999

• Marie Clair Magazine
• Cover illustration IDD, M&A, VCJ & Financial Planning Magazines

ORGANIZATION:

• Florida Artist Group
• Art League of Daytona Beach
• President of the Flagler County Art League
• PAL Executive Board

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AWARDS:

• Numerous
• The Salmagundi, Dale Meyers Cooper medallion Award 1994

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Please be advised Links may change:
http://daytonatimes.com/2013/07/former-nypd-sketch-artists-paintings-to-grace-wallsof-scarlettgolden-center/
https://flaglerlive.com/31059/weldon-ryan-artist/
http://www.cookman.edu/newsinfo/newsroom/newsReleases/2012/PR062612.html
https://www.palmcoastgov.com/future http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/caribbeat-west-indian-
american-day-carnivalkicksthursday-article-1.2768475
http://www.newsjournalonline.com/article/LK/20150603/News/605058032/DN/
http://www.newsjournalonline.com/news/20120821/former-police-officer-weldonryan-thrives-as-artist-in-
palmcoast http://www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/calypso-art-gallery http://www.news-
journalonline.com/entertainment/20160713/hi-calypso-gallerybringscaribbean-flavor-to-flagler/
http://folioweekly.com/COMING-TO-YOUR-SENSES,14601

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