Ryan McGinley, illustrious darling of the New York downtown arts scene, who is now seemingly more serious in the direction and cohesiveness of his photography, is having a solo show in Amsterdam. Over the last decade McGinley's photography has earned him a strong reputation with his images that capture youth culture in a certain cinematic rawness, ย mostly in the nude, save for maybe a pair of dirty tennis shoes. From the gallery, "Youth, liberation and the joy of losing yourself in the moment are elements that feature throughout Ryan McGinleyโs work, from his early roots in documenting the urban adventures of his downtown Manhattan friends to his subsequent cross-country travels in utopian environments throughout America to his most recent studio portraits. McGinleyโs elaborate and rigorous process of photo-making creates moments of breathtaking beauty: naked feral kids poised in ecstatic abandon. The lack of clothing and other contemporary signifiers along with the archetypical landscapes give the photos a sense of timelessness in which the viewer can project his or her own story."
Galerie Gabriel Rolt Gallery in Amsterdam will be presenting a new series of works by McGinley entitled Somewhere Place. ย April 9 to May 14. www.ryanmcginley.com