The Tree Show

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Absorbing Roman poet Ovid's tales of transformation and infusing them with art-historical references and contemporary pop culture, Mark Ryden explores new terrain in his latest work. "Arcadian Gothic" hints at the essence of this collection, where fans will discover familiar themes in paintings, drawings, and sculptures created since his first solo show in 1998. Ryden's art is rich with layers of reference, merging Renaissance landscape and Neoclassical portraiture with elements of occultism and literature. His latest pieces blend the arcane with pop-cultural imagery, allowing for imaginative leaps into fantasy. The series features oak trees consuming children, floating tree stumps with "seeing" eyes, and mythological characters personifying Nature. Ryden's characters shine with a porcelain glow reminiscent of Ingres, while his trees are rendered with the meticulousness of Audubon's illustrations. Many paintings are presented in intricately carved frames that extend their narratives beyond the canvas. This volume includes reproductions of Ryden's work alongside his research on the tree as a mythological symbol, drawing from diverse sources such as the Buddha's Bodhi Tree, Adam and Eve, and ecological science. It serves as an enticing dossier on Ryden's comprehensive exploration of the arboreal world. Mark Ryden, born in Medford, Oregon, holds a BFA from Art Center College of Design and currently resides in Los Angeles.