Ryker Woodward: Nostalgic Signifiers From Digital Realms

Featuring 20 works from Monterey, CA based artist Ryker Woodward.

Ryker Woodward (born in 1998, in San Diego, California) currently lives and works in Monterey, California. Ryker moved to Portland, Oregon in 2017, to attain an BFA in Painting and drawing from the Pacific Northwest College of Art where he graduated from in 2022. 

Ryker Woodward’s work is a resonant mnemonic, evoking the pervasive influence of video-gaming within the collective psyche of its participants. Transmuting often glanced-over gaming artifacts into fine art canvases, he beckons viewers to reassess and deepen their own experiences with these seemingly banal images. A split screen, a user interface, a minimap, an inventory —artifacts. And then, pushing further, appraising these symbols as if, in their moments, they belong to a separate Art History: the esteemed weaponry, the opening vista, the deciding moments of a tournament, the LAN party, equipment, exploration, victories, losses. As in history, these moments are known, at a glance, to those who partook in or study them; Woodward’s artwork speaks directly to that global cohort.

In this exploration of the cultural echoes of gaming histories, Woodward excavates these nostalgic vignettes for emotive paintings. His work imbues sincerity and affective resonance, affording viewers an evocative realm where memory and narrative converge. There, the line blurs between observer and participant, where the act of creation becomes an act of remembrance and cultural critique. His paintings, first, limn moments frozen in digital time, but also serve as conduits for introspection and collective reevaluation. As he continues deeper into the themes of digital escapism and communal gaming experiences, Ryker Woodward remains steadfast in his pursuit of authenticity and emotional depth, ensuring that his artworks resonate as vibrant testimonies to the profound impact of gaming on contemporary consciousness.