Jo Ryan unveils Ordered Chaos at Blender Studios

North West City News
Georgie Atkins | 10th April, 2024

Graphic designer and pop-up artist Jo Ryan brings her solo exhibition to Blender Studios in West Melbourne, showcasing her vibrant and unique style with a series of “communication landscapes”.

Jo has been one of Blender’s resident artists for just over a year, and her latest exhibition will feature around 45 pieces, focusing on the ways in which our urban environment communicates with us through design.

“I was always looking at signage, trends, posters and logos as I was on my way to work, and I realised how much communication there is around us,” Jo said.

“It can be lines, colours, a tag – anything. It’s all just trying to capture communication within a landscape.”

*Jade goes for a run*, Aerosol and hand-cut vinyl on aluminium composite, 40 x 61cm

*Hoddle Street turnoff onto the freeway*, Aerosol and hand-cut vinyl on aluminium composite, 40 x 61cm

Utilising a combination of skills and materials such as aerosol cans and vinyl that is predominantly hand-cut, Jo’s intricately crafted pieces are a celebration of “really strong colours”, vividly capturing the essence of various local landscapes.

Ordered Chaos will also present a unique sculptural piece.

“I’m my own worst enemy,” she told North West City News.

“Most of the time when artists do signage, it’s a little bit interpreted. It’s not their biggest concern so they’re a little bit rougher. But my work is about communication, so it has to be perfect. I don’t want you to be distracted by bad typography, I want you to be able to see all of it.”

While currently living in Docklands, Jo feels she has found her “happy place” at Blender Studios.

“It’s just perfect, all the dreams came true,” she said.

“I get to create artwork, I get to have an idea or a concept and make it, which is just lovely. Nothing’s off limits, and I get to chat with other artists, and they bounce ideas off me and I bounce ideas off them – it’s wonderful.”

Blender Studios was founded in 2001 and has established itself as a renowned art complex with a focus on resident art studio spaces, currently hosting more than 20 artists.

Ordered Chaos will run from April 19 to May 4 at Blender Studios.

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