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Thu, Mar 13, 2025
Beginning August 22, the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University will present Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects. Co-organized by the Wexner Center and the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, the first comprehensive solo exhibition of the Turner Prize-winning artist will be on view at the multidisciplinary arts space through January 11, 2026.
Unruly Objects features more than 100 works made over four decades by the British artist, known for her singular ability to convert the most common materials into revelatory art. It is curated by Tamara H. Schenkenberg, curator, with Molly Moog, curatorial assistant, Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The exhibition travels to the Wex following its current presentation at the Pulitzer, which continues through July 27.
Veronica Ryan,Territories, 1986. Oil and graphite on paper. 21 4/15 x 29 2/15 inches (54.0 x 74.0 cm) [VR 1] © Veronica Ryan. Courtesy of Paula Cooper Gallery Photo: Kettle’s Yard
Among the sculptures, textiles, and works on paper are pieces made of traditional materials including bronze and marble, as well as others sourced from everyday items such as seeds, pods, orange peels, bandages, and plastic bottles. Ryan’s combination of organic materials and mass-produced items gives each of these a new life, while suggesting concerns about excess and consumption.
Though rooted in her academic training in London in the 1970s and 80s, Ryan’s artmaking has expanded to include traditional fiber crafts learned from her mother, which the artist regards as part of an intergenerational artistic legacy.
The remarkable evolution of Ryan’s practice, as well as the recurring themes and motifs within it, are reflected in such works as the bulbous plaster floor sculpture Territorial (1986); monumental lead pieces including the multipart work Cavities (1988); a number of mixed media sculptures reflecting Ryan’s study of West African art; a selection of sculptures made from pillows, referencing dreaming and memories of her mother; and an installation of crocheted sacks and organic materials that alludes to growth and potential.
updated July 18, 2025
An Exhibitions Opening Celebration will take place Friday, August 22, 5–9 PM.
A Wex Open House happening Sunday, August 25 from 4 to 7 PM will welcome students back to campus with activities including artmaking and gallery experiences with educators.
More events will be announced in the weeks leading up to the exhibition. Updates can be found at wexarts.org.
Veronica Ryan (b. 1956, Plymouth, Montserrat) lives and works in both New York City and Bristol, UK. She has been designated an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and RA (Royal Academy of Arts). In 2022, she was awarded Tate museum’s Turner Prize, one of the most prestigious visual arts awards in the UK, and included in the Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Learn more about the artist.
Updated July 18, 2025
