About Rylee
Rylee Holihan is a cross-disciplinary artist and musician. She is a ceramic sculptor due to graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Craft and Material Studies in 2022. She currently resides in Richmond, VA where she works at a local Italian restaurant as a prep and line cook. For the past five years, this job has influenced her practice, use of material, and subject matter. Holihan is exploring what it means to be an artist, musician, and cook all at the same time. She is interested in finding out how to digitize her craft, starting with making sculptures that are hooked up to synthesizers and require human touch to activate. Rylee Holihan has exhibited at Happy Creek Coffee and Tea in Front Royal, VA; and Cure Coffeehouse in Norfolk, VA. She has two public art installations, both installed in the arts district of her hometown of Norfolk, VA.
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Intuition fuels my work. With a confident hand, I make big decisions quickly, although in the grocery store I can’t even decide what type of juice to buy. I create my ideas by thinking about what I want to see my hands create. I am inspired by late 20th century American culture, including media, consumer items, and fashion. Nostalgic, Americana narratives reveal themselves through my use of color and theme. I use nostalgia as a form of escapism, in order to distract myself from the world around me.
Recently, I have been interested in taking my practice to a digital space while it continues to take up physical space. Through sound, light, video, and community participation I can blend my love for sculpting and creating kinetic visuals.
I enjoy creating objects that take up space, be it physically or sonically. I aim to make the viewer feel both nostalgic and a little bit weirded out as if they have just remembered a detail from a dream after forgetting it all day.
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Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2022 Spring
Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Craft/Material Studies with a focus in clay and fiber
Solo Exhibitions:
2020
Ho Hum, Humdrum; Happy Creek Coffee & Tea, Front Royal, VA
2016
Organique: Recent Works by Rylee Holihan, Cure Coffeehouse, Norfolk, VA
2016-
Flowers Grow Where You Once Were: Muralist, Sentara Heart Health Hospital, Norfolk, VA
Applied and chosen from many artists to paint a mural to be hung in the front lobby of the hospital.
Group Exhibitions:
2020
Student Video Work Open Call Round 3, the Anderson, Richmond VA
2016
Origin; Origin Gallery, Norfolk VA
Curated by Governor’s School of the Arts
2016-
Muralist, A Latte Cafe, Norfolk VA
Governor’s School of the Arts public art opportunity
2014-
Muralist, PB Young Elementary School, Norfolk VA
Curator: Jesse Scacia of AltDaily.com
Applied and accepted to paint a mural at PB Young middle school in Norfolk, VA
Experience:
2017-
Cashier/Line cook: 8 ½; Richmond, VA
2017-2022
Undergraduate Clay Studio Leader: Delegating tasks to other students while in studio cleanup time/Helping other students fire kilns/Advising other students on sculptural techniques
2018
VCU Jeanology: Richmond, VA, New York, NY, Don Matías, Colombia: Summer semester class starting with a two week history of denim course in Richmond, VA; one week market denim analysis course in New York, NY; and one week working in Prointex denim factory in Don Matías, Colombia
2015- 2016
Designer, Chrysler Museum Fashion Show/Exhibition; Norfolk, VA – Curated by Governor’s School of the Arts: Designed wearable art inspired by an exhibit on display at the Chrysler Museum for a fashion show. The piece was later on exhibition at the museum.
Skills:
Experienced in kiln firing: both Bailey gas kilns and Skutt electric kilns
Mixing clay and glazes
Handbuilding and pottery wheel throwing
Dye kitchen safety and practices
Proficient in sewing
Painting public murals
Line cook and cashier experience offers skills in time management and customer service