ROMULUS x THE ARMORY SHOW, SEPTEMBER 24–27, 2026ROMULUS x THE ARMORY SHOW, SEPTEMBER 24–27, 2026
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ROMULUS x THE ARMORY SHOW, SEPTEMBER 24–27, 2026ROMULUS x THE ARMORY SHOW, SEPTEMBER 24–27, 2026
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Mark Ryden, Black Tie Yak (#153)

Mark RydenBlack Tie Yak (#153), 2019

Oil on panel and hand-carved wood frame

25.4 x 19.1 cm

About the artist

Using Old Master techniques, Mark Ryden creates paintings that are rich in depth and explore fantasy, the subconscious, and the underworld through the lens of pop culture from diverse eras and regions. A unique blend of contemporary surrealism, mysticism, animism, and kitsch, the enigmatic world he creates connects deeply with intuition and imagination. Ryden’s meticulous detail, exquisite presentation, and his profound impact on artists and cultures over three decades have solidified his unique presence, earning him the title, “The King of Pop Surrealism”. Mark Ryden received his BFA from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1987. His paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, including a 2016 career-spanning retrospective Cámara de las maravillas at The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo of Málaga, as well as an earlier retrospective Wondertoonel at the Frye Museum of Art in Seattle and Pasadena Museum of California Art (2004–2005). In 2017 Ryden was commissioned to create the set and costume design for a new production of Whipped Cream, put on by the American Ballet Theatre with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky. The drawings, sketches and paintings created by Ryden for the ballet were exhibited concurrently at the Gallery Met located at the Metropolitan Opera House and at Kasmin. Ryden currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

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