Born in 1980, Ryan Schmidt is an artist whose passion for creating began at a young age. His early interest in Origami and Constructs (predecessor to Legos) led him to explore painting, photography, and sculpture, which eventually became his definite artistic direction. He gained valuable experience in working with wood, metal, and plastic in his father’s custom remodeling, landscaping, and hard crafted playgrounds business, which further enhanced his creative skills.
During college, Schmidt honed his skills in photography, painting, drawing, color in design, printmaking, ceramics, and finally transitioned into sculpture. He discovered his love for cast aluminum, bronze, and eventually, stainless steel for its enduring qualities and brilliant reflection.
In 2002, he founded Rykan Expedition, Inc. to combine landscaping, water fountains, and outdoor sculpture. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he spent five years focusing on producing sculptures while establishing his gallery connections. In 2015, he returned to his hometown of Bryant, Arkansas, to expand his production of sculptures.
Schmidt’s mission is to share the gift of inspiration through reflection with his passion for stainless steel and his desire to build sculptures that will last for generations. His works of art have a timeless quality that adds beauty to any setting and invites contemplation and reflection.
In recent years, Schmidt has exhibited throughout California, Michigan, Arkansas, Florida, and Taiwan. He won “First Place” at the Hot Springs 4th Annual Sculpture Showcase in Arkansas (2009), “First Place” at the 11th Annual Indian Wells Arts Festival in California (2013), placed in the “Top 25” at Art Prize in Michigan (2015, 2017), “Third Place” Sculpture category at the 54th Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival (2017), and recipient of Proskauer Prize at the National Sculpture Society’s 85th Annual Awards Exhibition for his Rain of Faith Sculpture (2018). Schmidt’s corporate installations can be found at the Taiwan International Contemporary Artist Association in World Trade Center Taipei, BankUnited Building at the Financial District Downtown Miami, Florida, and Amway Botanical R&D Center in Wuxi/Shanghai, China; and his public works in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Northglenn, Colorado, Little Rock, and Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is represented by galleries in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Aspen, Miami Beach, Dubai, San Antonio, and Bridgehampton, New York.
EXHIBITIONS
2019 Sculptacular Preview, River Market Pavilion, Little Rock, AR
La Quinta Arts Festival, Palm Springs, CA
2018 “With Abstract Uncertainty,” The White Room Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
“Resurrection,” International Sculpture Center Expo, Chicago, IL
16th Annual Downtown Aspen Art Festival, Aspen, CO
Sculptures in San Antonio, SAAC, San Antonio, TX
International Sculpture Day, Austin, TX
2017 Art Revolution Taipei
Coconut Gove Arts Festival, Florida
LA Quinta Arts Festival, Palm Springs, California
2016 Matt McLeod Fine Art, Little Rock, Arkansas
2015 Artprize, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Michigan
West Coast Artist, Palm Springs, California
2014 Arts of Palm, Beverly Hills Centennial Celebration, California
2013 Indian Wells Arts Festival, Palm Desert, California
Venice Art Crawl, Venice Beach, CA
2013 Made in California, City of Brea, Orange County
January Desert Art Festival, Palm Springs, California
2012 December Desert Art Festival, Palm Springs, California
Affaire in the Gardens Fall Art Show, Beverly Hills, California
Sculpture at the River Market, Little Rock, Arkansas
2011 Affaire in the Gardens, Beverly Hills, California
2010 Winterfest Holiday Arts District Event, Los Angeles, California
Venice Ale House Art Crawl, Venice, California
Affaire in the Gardens, Beverly Hills, California
Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk, Los Angeles, California
City Market Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Epicenter Twenty Ten Music Festival, Fontana, California
Venice Art Crawl at 15 Rose Avenue, Venice, California
The Art Squared Art Show at Pershing Square, Los Angeles, CA
2008-9 Art on Parade by Northglenn Arts and Humanities, Northglenn, Colorado
2007 Sculpture at the River Market, Inaugural Invitational, Little Rock, Arkansas
2006 1st Arkansas Sculpture Invitational, Arkansas Sculptor's Guild, Little Rock, Arkansas
2004-7 Arkansas Flower & Garden Show, Little Rock, Arkansas
CORPORATE AND PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
Taiwan International Contemporary Artist Association, World Trade Center Taipei
Bank United Building, Miami, FL
Amway Botanical R&D Center, Wuxi/Shanghai, China
Grand Rapids, MI
Northglenn, CO
Little Rock, AR
Hot Springs, AR
AWARDS
2013 1st Place, Sculpture Category, 11th Annual Indian Wells Arts Festival Palm Desert, CA
2009 1st Place, Hot Springs 4th Annual Sculpture Showcase" Hot Springs, Arkansas
2009 1st Place, Shine a Light on Literacy, Governor's Mansion Little Rock, Arkansas
2008 People's Choice Award Art on Parade, Northglenn, Colorado
2006 People's Choice for Best of Show, 1st Arkansas Sculpture Invitational, Little Rock, AR
Hardscape Horticultural Excellence, Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, L.R., AR
2005 Hardscape Horticultural Excellence, Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, L.R., AR
TV & FILM
Westworld