It’s the first Friday of the month, and there are two things you should be doing: going to Mainframe Studio’s first Friday event and listening to the seventh episode of “FolkArtwork and Friends, with my special guest Ryan Ward.
In the eighth episode of FolkArtwork and Friends, I am pleased to catch up with my good friend Ryan Ward of The Ruffed Grouse Gallery. Ever since I was first mistaken for Ryan at the Outsider Art Fair in 2024, we hit it off, and he’s been a great mentor and friend as he helps me navigate this world of outsider art.
I talk to Ryan about his relationship with art growing up as a kid in rural Pennsylvania, spending tons of time outside, discovering artwork by Purvis Young and Jimmy Lee Sudduth that catapulted him into the world of self-taught and outsider art, as well as purchasing his first work while in grad school. Plus, we talk about our time at the Outsider Art Fair, the artist Little Walt Dog, discovering a piece of art created by Jerry Saltz, and the future of the outsider art world.
Then, in celebration of May Day, a look at the life of self-taught artist Ralph Fasanella, whose large, detailed works depicted urban working life and critiqued post-World War II America.
Follow Ryan Ward and The Ruffed Grouse Gallery on Instagram at @ruffed_grouse_gallery, and check out their latest gallery in Narrowsburg, New York, titled “Out Of Hand And Foot: Tanner Simon | Charles Farless” on display until June 14th.
Episodes will come out every first Friday of the month, on your favorite podcast player — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and with video on YouTube. Like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back for more. Thanks so much!
Watch the latest epsiodes of “FolkArtwork and Friends” here.
Love you.
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