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Mark Ryden: Yakalina 9: In collaboration with Perrotin, Tokyo

Past exhibition
April 1 – May 30, 2022
  • Works
  • About the Artist
  • Explore
  • Kasmin and Perrotin are delighted to announce a jointly organized exhibition of new works by American artist Mark Ryden (b. 1963, United States). Yakalina 9 will be presented in Perrotin's Tokyo gallery from April 1-May 30, 2022. Encompassing the newly created series of bronze sculptures and drawings of the mysterious entity Yakalina, the exhibition is conceived as a component of the artist's upcoming exhibition, Animal Secrets, opening at Perrotin Paris in May.
  • (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
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    Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Perrotin. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Perrotin. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
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  • Mark Ryden's imaginative artistic play manifests itself through layers of meanings and connotations. The artist's creation is an ode to craftsmanship and refined materiality, from exquisite pictorial imagery to lavishly decorated frames. At the same time, the artist probes into the invisible and secret order of the universe and interprets the life of things that are filled with spiritual essence. Exploring the symbolic significance of elements that inhabit his metaphorical landscapes, Ryden's work evokes the feeling of awe of the mysterious, sometimes uncanny world.
  • Mark Ryden Yakalina (Blush), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x... Mark Ryden Yakalina (Blush), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x... Mark Ryden Yakalina (Blush), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x...

    Mark Ryden

    Yakalina (Blush), 2022

    bronze with patina
    42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches
    106.7 x 34.6 x 34.4 cm
  • Yakalina 9 features sculptures and drawings of the mysterious animal recently created by Ryden. Yakalina has a long conical body covered with fur apart from the face, whose appearance is both lovely and eerie. This type of long-lasting iconography tradition goes back to the Bronze Age's imagery and refers to a human or a deity's figure with outstretched arms symbolizing worshiping and piety. Adopted by early Christians, the orans posture keeps appearing in classical religious art: from the prayer figures in Roman catacomb frescoes to the depiction of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Sign in the icons and mosaics of Byzantine art. The simple yet powerful image transcends the boundaries of physical form to represent sublime matter. Ryden rethinks this iconography of worship within his artistic imagery by connecting it to Anima Animals, a recurring subject in Ryden's artistic practice. As threshold figures, they guide a viewer through the field of the unknown, inducing the spirit of creativity to rediscover one's connection with nature and the divine. Ryden believes that “if you ask for your animal spirit, it will come to you. Close your eyes, look inward, and ask your animal guide to come, then keep your eyes open for a visitation.”
  • Mark Ryden Yakalina (Bombay), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x... Mark Ryden Yakalina (Bombay), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x... Mark Ryden Yakalina (Bombay), 2022 bronze with patina 42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches 106.7 x 34.6 x...

    Mark Ryden

    Yakalina (Bombay), 2022

    bronze with patina
    42 x 13 5/8 x 13 1/2 inches
    106.7 x 34.6 x 34.4 cm
  • Exhibited alongside Ryden’s sculptures, are his drawings of Yakalina, which have visual similarities with the old alchemy manuscripts. Intellectual play with symbols, alchemy emblems, structures, and numbers in the works denotes a hidden order inaccessible to the uninitiated. As a hermetic text, the artist's oeuvre is obscure. The very moment of contemplation of artistic endeavor, that does not necessarily have to be fully decoded, awakens the feeling of utter wonder when one encounters the intangible reality manifested in physical form.

    Throughout humanity's history, the philosophical discourse on the dichotomy between physical and spiritual, tangible and ethereal, visible and invisible, has constantly been reemerging. Yet, preoccupied with the extensive materiality of today's mass culture, our generation primarily believes in scientific and technological achievements. The essential question remains on a personal level: how can we perceive something that belongs to the field of the unknown and intangible? Perception of the unknown may require another way of seeing, not rational but rather imaginative. Thus, reminded of spiritual presence in the contemporary context, let Yakalina keep her secrets.

  • Mark Ryden Yakalina (2021) mixed media on paper 16 1/2 x 13 inches 41.9 x 33 cm Mark Ryden Yakalina (2021) mixed media on paper 16 1/2 x 13 inches 41.9 x 33 cm Mark Ryden Yakalina (2021) mixed media on paper 16 1/2 x 13 inches 41.9 x 33 cm

    Mark Ryden

    Yakalina (2021)

    mixed media on paper
    16 1/2 x 13 inches
    41.9 x 33 cm

  • "If your eyes are open, you can see the face of the divine wherever you look." —Mark Ryden
  • Works
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina, 2021
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina, 2021
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2021%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina - Visible and Invisible, 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina - Visible and Invisible, 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20-%20Visible%20and%20Invisible%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina 9, 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina 9, 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%209%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina Array, 2021
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina Array, 2021
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20Array%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2021%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina Portrait, 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina Portrait, 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20Portrait%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bianca), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bianca), 2022
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Bianca%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Black), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Black), 2022
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Black%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bistre), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bistre), 2022
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Bistre%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Blood), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Blood), 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Blood%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Blush), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Blush), 2022
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Blush%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bombay), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bombay), 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Bombay%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Brilliant), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Brilliant), 2022
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      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Brilliant%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bronze), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Bronze), 2022
      Inquire
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    • Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Buff), 2022
      Mark Ryden, Yakalina (Buff), 2022
      Inquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMark%20Ryden%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EYakalina%20%28Buff%29%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
  • About the Artist

    Mark Ryden
    Portrait by Christopher French.

    Mark Ryden

    Blending themes of pop culture with techniques reminiscent of the old masters, Mark Ryden has devised a singular style that blurs traditional boundaries. His work first garnered attention in the 1990s as he ushered in a new genre of painting, “Pop Surrealism,” which developed the scope and spirit of the 20th century surrealism by embellishing its vocabulary with contemporary cultural references.

    Ryden’s work exquisitely renders a universe replete with fantastical characters amid enchanted landscapes that embody the artist’s meticulously realized signature blend of archetype, kitsch, and narrative mysticism. Ryden’s modern mythologies inseparably interweave twin senses of comfort and menace. “Most of my work engages with the relationship between the physical world and the spiritual world,” he has said. His are scenes that exist in the ambiguous space between these two realms, in which nostalgia—and by extension memory, even death—are ever-present.

    Learn More

  • Explore

    • vanessa german: GUMBALL—there is absolutely no space between body and soul
      Exhibitions

      vanessa german: GUMBALL—there is absolutely no space between body and soul

      April 3 – May 10, 2025 509 West 27th Street, New York, 514 West 28th Street, New York
      Kasmin presents its second solo exhibition of new work by artist vanessa german, which debuts related bodies of sculpture across two of the gallery’s spaces in New York. The exhibition deepens german’s singular approach to sculpture as a spiritual practice with the power to transform lived experience. Both series comprise mineral crystals, beads, porcelain, wood, paint and the energy that these objects bring to life to form monumental heads and figures in the act of falling. Together, each body of work envisions the transformation of consciousness necessary to imagine a new world.
    • Theodora Allen: Oak
      Exhibitions

      Theodora Allen: Oak

      May 7 – July 25, 2025 297 Tenth Avenue, New York
      Allen’s atmospheric oil paintings on linen depict natural phenomena and symbols chosen for their enduring presence in human history and culture, often drawing from mythology and medieval imagery. From hearts and infinity loops to rainbows and locusts, these subjects serve to underscore nature’s propensity for renewal following destruction. Branches of an oak tree, a powerful symbol of wisdom, strength and endurance, reappear. Through compositional devices, such as gates, windows, and architectural niches, Allen's illusionistic spaces create a dynamic interplay between inclusion and exclusion. Her scenes emerge as ruins burgeoning with life, offering glimpses into a realm where the natural world and the metaphysical entwine.
Back to Past exhibitions

509 West 27th Street

New York
Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–6pm
+1 212 563 4474
info@kasmingallery.com

 

297 Tenth Avenue

New York
Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–6pm
+1 212 563 4474
info@kasmingallery.com

 

Kasmin Sculpture Garden

New York
On view from The High Line at 27th Street
Monday–Sunday, 7am-11pm
+1 212 563 4474
info@kasmingallery.com

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