When it comes to Ryan McGinley, most people either love his work or hate it. We’ve always been in the former category. Whether he’s shooting spectacular color photographs of pretty naked young things in underground caves across America or black-and-white photos of pretty naked young things in his studio, there’s a compelling quality to his images that goes beyond mere provocation. They can be nostalgic, innocent, and sexual all at once because it’s not about capturing youth, but some shared fantasy version of it.
In his latest exhibition, Life Adjustment Center , which is on view at San Francisco’s Ratio 3 gallery through December 11th, McGinley reminds us why he was the youngest artist ever to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The photos — a mixture of black-and-white portraits and colorful road trip images — are different from his previous work in that some of the nudes are posing with live, wild animals. The results are strange, but stunning; a cheeky juxtaposition of the beauty and unpredictability of youth and the natural world.
Click through below to check out a selection of work.
Ryan McGinley, Owl, 2010. Gelatin silver print. 18 x 12 inches
Ryan McGinley, Peacock, 2010. Gelatin silver print. 12 x 18 inches
Ryan McGinley, India (Coyote), 2010. Gelatin silver print. 40 x 27 inches
Ryan McGinley, Tom (Fall Away), 2010. Chromogenic color print. 40 x 27 inches
Ryan McGinley, Hanna (Deer), 2010. Gelatin silver print. 40 x 27 inches
Ryan McGinley, Tarantula, 2010. Gelatin silver print. 27 x 40 inches
Ryan McGinley, India (Deer), 2010. Gelatin silver print. 12 x 18 inches
Ryan McGinley, Butterfly, 2010. Gelatin silver print. 40 x 27 inches
Ryan McGinley, Alex (Frog), 2010. Chromogenic color print. 48 x 72 inches
Ryan McGinley, Amanda & Chloe, 2010. Gelatin silver print. 27 x 40 inches
Ryan McGinley, Red Tail Hawk, 2010.
Ryan McGinley, Wes (Gator), 2010.
Ryan McGinley, Grace (Emu), 2010.