Painter ryan j. stewart | Featured Artist Series
“I am excited to be able to share what brings me joy and solace. Art has served as my greatest therapist and safe space for my entire life so far and will continue to do so. I hope my work sparks a little energy for folks in a world that is forever dim and dark, it seems.”
- Ryan J. Stewart
Featured Artist Series
Ryan J. Stewart | Painter
Next month Arts at the Palace is excited to feature many new artists during Hamilton Winter Jazz Fest - a celebration of jazz, film, art, and community, bringing performances and events to venues throughout the village. On March 6th, painter Ryan Stewart will present his work alongside Jill Sziliga during the premiere performance of Dave Solazzo and The Bridge at Arts at the Palace. For Ryan, sharing his work publicly is simply an extension of something that has always been present in his life.
Born and raised in Buffalo, Ryan describes himself as part of “the last generation to truly experience life in analog.” His childhood was filled with hands-on curiosity - books, doodle pads, markers, and anything that could be shaped, stitched, or built. Creativity was simply part of daily life. His mom was a sewing and crafting “wizard,” his dad quietly worked on costume design, props, and upholstery projects, and both of his siblings pursued dance. His older sister has been a dancer her entire life, while his younger brother now lives in New York City, performing and teaching year-round, most recently as part of the Rockettes.
Growing up in that environment, making things felt natural. “I always had a book or a doodle pad with me,” Ryan says. “I loved working in a lot of mediums, but markers and painting were my favorites early on.”
Ryan eventually studied graphic design and has spent nearly fifteen years working professionally in creative fields. The work pays the bills but painting feeds something else entirely. “I’ve been able to make a living as an artist,” he explains, “even if the day-to-day work isn’t always purely my own. I still try to bring my sensibilities into everything I do.”
Like many artists, his path hasn’t been stable. Moving between jobs, often unexpectedly, has been draining. Yet the instability created its own kind of momentum. “The obstacle of shifting jobs every few years drains the creative banks,” he says. “But it also fuels exploration. My unwillingness to not be creative every day is what keeps me going.”
Creativity is also part of home life. His wife, Amanda, is a master fiber artist working in knitting, crocheting, needle-felting, wet-felting, and mixed media collage, with work shown at Munson and sold in the museum shop. Their oldest son, Eli, already has a distinctive talent in alcohol/paint marker art, and their youngest, Remi, explores drawing, painting and sculpting but has found his main voice in music (tuba, violin, keyboard and guitar) teaching himself new songs all the time. “I have to keep up with all of them,” Ryan laughs!
For Ryan, painting is less about producing an object and more about entering a mental space. His works, especially the Groove and Ripple pieces, are intuitive rather than planned, beginning without a sketch or map and developing through response and instinct. “Nothing is planned out,” he says. “It’s 100% freeform… a stream of artistic consciousness. The piece tells me what colors it needs. A big circle here, a tiny bold zigzag there.”
Letting the work lead is part of the process. “Relinquishing control is freeing,” he explains. “I end up making decisions I normally wouldn’t, and they turn out amazing.”
Ryan’s connection to Arts at the Palace grew out of everyday community ties. Both he and his wife Amanda previously worked at Colgate, where Ryan created promotional materials for the Palace through a bookstore partnership.
Now Ryan’s paintings will hang in the same space he once designed for - this time as personal expression. More than anything, Ryan hopes viewers feel a small shift when they spend time with the work. “Art has been my greatest therapist and safe space,” he says. “I just want the work to spark a little energy for people.”
Ryan Stewart’s paintings will be on view at Arts at the Palace during the Hamilton Winter Jazz Festival, including the March 6 performance evening and Open Gallery Hours on Saturday, March 7 from 2:00–5:00 pm.
See Ryan’s professional design portfolio here: rsmd.myportfolio.com/work
Or follow on Instagram @gojiraaaaaaaaaa
