Conversations with Ryan Nichole Leary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Nichole Leary

Hi Ryan Nichole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Like most children, the walls of our house were my canvas. Instead of pulling me off the wall and handing me paper, my parents, Allen and Darla Leary, lined the wall with butcher paper so I can continue to create my “masterpieces.” My parents exposed me to the arts around the cities; all the museums, ballet, symphony, opera, but visual art and I were soul mates. I will be honest, it was not a straight path to get where I am today. I was art focused through college, however having an art history degree does not always stand out once you hit real life. I worked at the Contemporary Arts Center for a few years, switched to corporate, moved to Chicago and was the founding Visual Art Educator at Butler College Prep. When Chicago did not yield the results I hoped for (and did I hope), moved back to Cincinnati (Corporate for seven more years) and then I said I am going to take that leap of faith and be a full-time visual artist/art historian/art educator.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has not been a smooth road. I would describe it as handing a toddle a crayon and a poster board and watching the child create. Anytime you work for yourself, you are your business. You take on the multiple hats of legal (reading and comprehending contracts), marketing, inventory, balance sheets, creating the work and the list goes on. That is any entrepreneur, however I have been blessed with a community that supports and assists me. Partnerships and networking have been the key for me having the success that I have. Collaboration has assisted in minimizing the challenges of finding opportunities or individuals that need/benefit from my service. I am grateful for Soul Palette, Black Art Speaks, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Center (R.O.M.A.C.), Cincinnati Art Museum and others who have worked with me. More importantly, maintaining and building those relationships as well. I will say this, I had to change my mentality in being a creative. Instead of “struggle,” I ask myself with this challenge, what resources do I have, what resources do I need to acquire, how many ways can I approach this that will lead to a resolution; mind set is the key to confronting challenges.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been creating portraiture for over 20 years in a variety of two dimensional media. My media of expertise is oil painting and pastels/plaster pencil. I chose portraits, well I believe portraiture chose me. As an art historian, I have been in many museums that did not have portraits/people/narratives that looked like mine or my community. In 2003, I started creating images of some of my favorite musicians, hip hop artists, etc. Then it expanded to commissions of family, friends, and more. I truly believe my background in art history, history in general informs me of the work. There is something necessary about recovering stories that were either hidden, disregarded or shunned that informed my work. When I create these portraits of the African Diaspora, not to mention these are larges pieces 30 x 40+, I am planting and positioning a presence of a people you cannot (or no longer) ignore. The privileged of sharing these images/stories is a blessing.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
At the time of Covid, I was already working full time remote for a health care company. I learned that creativity, community, and connection are vital for humanity’s survival. At the time, Zoom calls on making art with my fellow creatives, learning new skills via youtube, journaling and overall creating kept me in my humanity. I am extremely close to my family, and not being able to hug my parents and brother nearly broke me. Covid solidified, to me, the importance of having community, nurturing community, giving grace to community and being active in community.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ryannicholestudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryannicholestudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryannicholestudios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryannicholestudios