The underside of America
Is American society a complete travesty? Ryan Travis Christian makes monochrome cartoons that ask precisely that. His illustrated scenes are cynical and funny. Most of all, his work is inspired by his experiences of small-town countercultures – from raves and skateboarding to underground music. Christian is also a huge champion of old, hand-drawn cartoons. Rubber hose animation is a notable influence. This is the classic, hand-drawn style of cartoon seen in programmes like Mickey Mouse. For Christian, modern-day digital animation is wholly distasteful. He keeps things analogue in the studio to...
Bio
Ryan Travis Christian (he/him) was born 1983 in California, USA. He currently lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
Inspirations
In the 1990s Christian was part of the rave scene in California, where he grew up. He partied, and used the experiences as a way to understand a side of American subculture.
In their words
Christian lives in Northern Illinois: “I’ve stayed in my comfort zone, that’s for sure. Why be some nobody in New York when I can be the fuckin’ King of Warrenville?"