Ry Rocklen
Bio
Ry Rocklen (b. 1978 Los Angeles) works with vintage objects that are chimerically transformed by the artist into farcical performative objects. In his hands, abandoned debris or kitsch is quixotically plasticized into a brand of postminimalist sculpture with a seductive touch of bling. Mundane objects are amplified and aestheticized when chromed or covered with mosaic tiles, producing a sculptural language that is theatrical, absurd, and graceful—a kind of wry ornamental formalism. A modular tiled floor made from paintings bought at thrift stores and flea markets becomes a stage for sculptures, including a tree composed of copper pipes, concrete, and VHS tape and a golden hay bale. In the production of a concretized uncanny, Rocklen attempts to achieve a fantasy of material alchemy that strips objects of their purpose and familiarity while revitalizing their use, circulation, and value.
Gallery
Ry Rocklen
Ry Rocklen. Pallet, 2009. Mattress, aqua-resin, fiberglass, epoxy putty, mortar, tiles, grout, gold leaf. 6 x 28 x 52 in. (15.2 x 71.1 x 132.1 cm). Courtesy the artist; UNTITLED, New York; and Thomas Solomon Gallery, Los Angeles.
Ry Rocklen
Ry Rocklen. Painting Tiles, 2011. Paintings, concrete, wood, spray paint. Dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist and UNTITLED, New York.
Ry Rocklen
Ry Rocklen. Second to None, 2011. Trophies, trophy parts, wood. 94 ½ x 146 x 39 in. (240 x 370.8 x 99 cm). Courtesy the artist and UNTITLED, New York.
Ry Rocklen
Ry Rocklen. Trance Plant, 2003. Audio tape, copper tubing, concrete, glass. 39 x 39 x 71 in. (99.1 x 99.1 x 180.3 cm). Courtesy the artist; UNTITLED, New York; and Thomas Solomon Gallery, Los Angeles.
Ry Rocklen
Works by Ry Rocklen. Installation view at Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, June 2, 2012-September 2, 2012. Photo by Brian Forrest.
Ry Rocklen
Works by Ry Rocklen. Installation view at Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, June 2, 2012-September 2, 2012. Photo by Brian Forrest.