Ryan Kelly

Ryan Kelly is a multidisciplinary artist and Assistant Professor of Art at Western Washington University (WWU), specializing in Ceramics and Foundations. He holds an MFA from The Ohio State University and a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute. Previously, he served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University and was a resident artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia.

His studio practice spans performance, video, and object-based installations, exploring themes of American mythology, historical inaccuracies, and the role of storytelling in material culture and decorative arts. He has collaborated in dance and theater, including credits in Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno series.

• Awards: Independence Foundation Fellowship

His work celebrates the peculiarities embedded in cultural artifacts like souvenirs, monuments, and commemorations, emphasizing their narrative and symbolic dimensions.