Biography
Bryan Ressler is a Seattle-area new media artist. Inspired in 2004 by an early piece of electronic light art, he sought to create works that explored his love of technology while simultaneously incorporating analog and organic aspects. Initially drawn toward wearable works, his early art culminated in Anthrolume, a trench coat emblazoned with 1,000 animated LEDs. Anthrolume is currently on exhibit at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center alongside another of his pieces, Oberon.
Despite their inherent expression through modern technology, Bryan’s works are never about their medium. Instead they challenge the viewer to reexamine their relationship to the light, shadow, form, and motion that surrounds them. Although his radiant pieces immediately catch the eye, the works benefit from prolonged contemplation: they draw the viewer in, inspiring personal interpretation. Additionally, most of his pieces allow viewer interaction through touch-screen interfaces or other means. Bryan employs a wide breadth of sculptural forms, ranging from small tabletop and wall pieces to large-scale installations, some of which include generative techniques to continuously create unique animations. The resulting art pieces often defy explanation yet connect with viewers on an intimate level.
Artwork
Chromata, 2019
Acrylic, wood, steel, electronics.
Sertus, 2017
Wood, acrylic, electronics.
Ripples, 2017
Acrylic, polyolefin, electronics.
Collaboration with Briar Bates, Dan Walker.
Corset, 2017
Fabric, electronics.
Collaboration with Trang M. Vu.
Oberon, 2017
Glass, wood, electronics.
Sunflower of Symmetry, 2016
Aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, river rock, electronics.
Orbit, 2015
Plastics, wood, electronics.
Anthrolume, 2014
Fabric, plastics, electronics.
Equator, 2013
Wood, plastics, acrylic, electronics.
Art + technology speaking engagements
Art ScienceTalks, Portland OR, February 2019:
Chromata: When Algorithms Meet Art
Northeastern University, Seattle WA, March 2018:
Art to Product and the Internet of Things
Mokedo Gallery, Seattle WA, January 2017:
Light Work: The Anthrolume project – An Artistic and Technical
Perspective
University of Puget Sound, Seattle WA, November 2016:
Anthrolume and the Art of Burning Man
Intellectual Ventures, Bellevue WA, August 2015:
Anthrolume—An Experiment in Wearable Electronic Art
Shenzhen Shiji Lighting, Shenzhen, China, December 2014:
Anthrolume—Artistic Application of Computer Controlled LEDs
eBay, Inc., San Jose CA, April 2014:
Gearworks: Bryan Ressler and Wearable LED Art
The Tech Museum, San Jose CA, April 2014:
Open Make: Meet the Makers: Bryan Ressler and Anthrolume
Vermillion Gallery, Seattle WA, February 2012:
Oscillate: Artist Panel
Jigsaw Renaissance, Seattle WA, October 2012:
Anthrolume—A Wearable Animated LED Array
Exhibitions
Arts-a-Glow
Dottie Harper Park, Seattle WA, September 2019
Burning Man
Registred playa artwork
Black Rock Ciy NV, August 2019
Lusio
Volunteer Park, Seattle WA, August 2019
Lusio Lights
Volunteer Park Botanical Conservatory, Seattle WA, March 2018
Portland Winter Light Festival
Portland OR, February 2019
Pacific Science Center
Seattle WA, April 2018 – ongoing
SeaCompression
Georgetown, Seattle WA, October 2018
Lusio Lights
Volunteer Park Botanical Conservatory, Seattle WA, September 2018
Luminata
Green Lake, Seattle WA, September 2018
Arts-a-Glow
Dottie Harper Park, Burien WA, September 2018
Burning Man
Black Rock City NV, August 2018
Electric Sky
Skykomish WA, August 2018
Lusio
Volunteer Park, Seattle WA, August 2018
Lusio Lights Georgetown
Georgetown, Seattle WA, July 2018
SAM Nights
Seattle WA, December 2017
Lusio Light
Mokedo, Seattle WA, October 2017
Lusio
Volunteer Park, Seattle WA, August 2017
Numinous Series
Seattle Center, Seattle WA, July 2017
Electric Sky
Skykomish WA, June 2017
The Show of Gratitude
Seattle WA, May 2017
Luminous Garden
Skykomish WA, February 2017
Vermillion Gallery, Seattle WA, December 2016 – January 2017
Skykomish WA, July 2016
Sylvan Series – Eldritch
Volunteer Park Botanical Conservatory, Seattle WA, October 2016
Arts-a-Glow
Dottie Harper Park, Burien WA, September 2016
Lusio
Volunteer Park, Seattle WA, July 2016
First Night
Tacoma WA, December 2015
Seattle SeaFair Torchlight Parade
Seattle WA, July 2015
Oscillate
Vermillion Gallery, Seattle WA, December 2012-January 2013
Grants
City of Burien Grant, Ripples, September 2017
King County 4Culture Grant, Ripples, August 2017
King County 4Culture Grant, Sunflower of Symmetry, July 2016