Ryan Callanan (RYCA)
Contemporary Pop & Street Artist
Ryan Callanan (born 1981) is an East London artist who has built an international collector base under his alias RYCA. A member of the London-based Scrawl Collective, Callanan graduated from art school in 2002 with a background in model-making and 3D design, and brings a craftsman's precision to everything he produces — from intricately constructed sculptures to typographic hand-painted works and limited edition screen prints.
His signature blend of pop culture, film iconography, 1980s acid house nostalgia and art-historical reference has made RYCA one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British art. The wildly popular Reservoir Troopers series — fusing Reservoir Dogs with Star Wars stormtroopers — helped launch his career, and he has continued to subvert and celebrate cultural landmarks with wit, colour and impeccable technique.
On 13 March 2015, Ryan Callanan received the Visual Artist of the Year award in partnership with Juxtapoz magazine at BritWeek in Los Angeles. He has exhibited extensively across London, Brighton, New York, Miami and Hong Kong, and his work continues to gain momentum with collectors worldwide.