he/him/his studio@ryangeraldnelson.com https://ryangeraldnelson.com/ Interdisciplinary, Drawing/Painting, Printmaking/Paper/Books In-person mentorship BIO Ryan Gerald Nelson (b. 1983) is a visual artist whose works include large-scale silkscreen works on paper and canvas, experimental painting and printmaking, sculpture, artist books, and writings regarding the Image as an entity and cultural force. He has most recently exhibited his works at Dreamsong, the Quarter Gallery at the University of Minnesota’s Regis Center for Art, and Highpoint Center for Printmaking. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY & MENTORSHIP As a mentor, I encourage students to immerse themselves in art, artists, perspectives, ideas, issues, arguments, etc. A student of visual art should view, read, listen to, experience, and attend everything that they can as a means of engaging with and critically reflecting on the current state of the world and of other art and artists. They must find their place and their unique voice within it all. Their own work and ideas must also be in dialogue with this critical reflection. I believe that this part of one’s practice is fundamental, but should not be exclusive to being a student. As such, I believe that students should be taught to embrace their curiosity in such a way that it continues in perpetuity throughout their career in the form of research and critical thinking skills that contribute to keeping the artist’s practice relevant and vibrant.