Work of Art: Wig Slip (Male) by Ryan Sluggett

Calgary and its surrounding area is full of creative people and beautiful pieces of art. Here is just one piece you should know about.

photograph courtesy of Ryan Sluggett

Wig Slip (Male), 2013, Fabric dye, tempera, acrylic, oil on fabric, 109″ x 74″. Collection of Jim and Susan Hill, Atlantic Avenue Art Block, 1011 9 Ave. S.E.

The artwork

Ryan Sluggett works drawing, collage, painting and animation into good fun and good art in Wig Slip (Male), one of a series of rambunctious, unresolvable, see-through abstracted portraits. His process involves visiting fabric shops to source poly-poplin materials like the acid green, bright pink and grey in this work, sewing them to form the ground. Freewheeling, he draws, dyes, paints, tapes and overlays with more fabric and paint, leaving traces of how he makes things and snippets of a slapstick backstory. Amid the colour, an arrow points to the falling hairpiece, as expletives fill the air in the top corner and a cartoonish grumpy bald guy scowls.

The artist

Raised in Calgary, Ryan Sluggett credits Chris Cran, Eric Cameron, Mary Scott and Arlene Stamp as early influences during studies at the Alberta College of Art + Design (BFA 2003). A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (MFA 2011), he now lives in Los Angeles but exhibits in Calgary regularly, with works in collections of Glenbow Museum and Nickle Galleries. Thanks to the collectors, Wig Slip (Male) is on view in the atrium of Atlantic Avenue Art Block, home to the Esker Foundation.

Learn more about the people and organizations moving Calgary forward with Avenue's Innovation Newsletter.

Related posts

Innovator of the Week: Nic Beique Has Taken Fintech Firm Helcim to the Next Level

Tsering Asha

Innovator of the Week: Shawn Leggett Upcycles Coffee Grounds and Brewery Grains to Make Food and Cosmetics

Tsering Asha

This Calgary Charity Uses Bikes to Empower Local Youth

Olivia Piché

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Privacy Policy

Privacy & Cookies Policy
Avenue Calgary