Catherine Ryan (Artist)

Today’s contributor, Catherine Ryan, is an artist interested in fear. Using existing photographs as her inspiration, Catherine reinterprets these images, sometimes “collaging” multiple images, in order to investigate the ways human beings behave in the face of fear. Her mysterious paintings highlight singular moments in time and make us look more deeply at the way we react to darkness. The first time I saw her work, I was really taken with how the scenes seem so familiar, yet, at the same time, something dangerous or surreal is always lurking. Now that I know her process, I’m even more impressed! I love how she uses ordinary, everyday photographs in order to explore the depths of human emotion.