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Van Ray (born 1984) is a German artist.[1] In his art, which is mostly characterized as street art or urban art, he makes use of different stencil techniques on vintage materials. Van Ray works from Cologne, Germany.[2]


Career[edit]

"I want to believe" - paste-up by Van Ray

Van Ray began his career with public graffiti in the end of the 90s, when he started to use his art as a tool for communication and an expression of social criticism. In his public works he made use of various techniques like stencils, stickers, paste-ups and sculptures to express his view of western society.[1]

After moving to Cologne in 2007 Van Ray elaborated the artists collaboration 'fancyroom', which mainly worked on textile designs by combining elements of graffiti and graphic design. These results were used for own textile collections and several textile manufacturers. The collaboration ended in 2010.[3]

At this time the public art of Van Ray was recognized by several Gallerists, asking him to present his street art in form of exhibitions. In winter 2010 Van Ray finally agrees to his first public exhibition, "Dirty Works" at the 30Works Gallery Cologne, presenting the "streets on wood"-series. Due to his public work, several solo and group exhibitions, live shows, art festivals and panel discussions Van Ray has become one of the most famous street art artists in Germany.[2]

In the context of the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Van Ray was invited by the Pierre Werner Institute in 2014 for a public live performance of his art in Luxembourg.[3]


Techniques and themes[edit]

Van Ray's work is characterized by it's detailed stencils on mostly rusty vintage materials like iron sheets, retro vending machines, retro enamel signs or wooden slats.[4] The works nowadays reflect a fusion of street art and pop art, retaining the basic elements of his distinctive artistic style without loosing sight of his intended social criticism.[5] His recent work makes use of various techniques like aerosol paint, acrylic paint, collage and décollage. Van Ray stated that his attempt to art is always to raise the question "what is important in your life?"[6] His works are signed with the "duck signature symbol".[7]


Selected exhibitions[edit]

  • 2014 - Urban Art Festival,(gr), KuFa, Luxembourg.
  • 2014 - Fuck You,(so), 30Works Gallery, Cologne.
  • 2014 - Urban Art,(gr), Gallery Hegemann, Munich.
  • 2014 - Street Art,(gr), Gallery am Dom, Kulturamt Wetzlar, Wetzlar .
  • 2013 - Van Ray,(so), Gallery Wagner+Marks, Frankfurt.
  • 2013 - Dirty Works # 04,(gr), 30Works Gallery, Cologne.
  • 2012 - Expo for Mattia,(gr), Palazzo Filangieri, Rome.
  • 2012 - to wild to die,(gr), Gallery Alexandra Grass, Bielefeld.
  • 2012 - Dirty Works # 03,(gr), ATM Gallery Berlin, Berlin.
  • 2011 - City Leaks,(gr), 30Works Gallery, Cologne.
  • 2011 - Van Ray ,(so), Plum Gallery, Shanghai.
  • 2011 - Dirty Works # 02,(gr), 30Works Gallery, Cologne.


Literature[edit]

  • Street Art Cologne, Anne Scherer, 2014 Kiepenheuer&Witsch.
  • Van Ray - Popup, 30works Galerie Köln, 2014.
  • Van Ray, Widewalls, Nina K, 7/2014.
  • Mauerbotschafter, Letzebuerger Journal, 8/2014.
  • Van Ray, Reflect, 3/2013.
  • Auf der Straße konstenlos, in der Galerie teuer, Bild Zeitung, 9/12/2011.
  • Fancy, um[laut] Magazin, 8/2010.


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Versall, Patrick (19 June 2014). "Mauerbotschafter". Letzebuerger Journal. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b K, Nina (11 July 2014). "Van Ray". Widewalls. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Van Ray". Institut Pierre Werner. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014. Cite error: The named reference "InstitutPierreWerner" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Wickert, A (24 August 2012). "Update Street Art". NRW Museum. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Streetart mit Punks und Kinder-Bauklötzen". Koeln.de. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  6. ^ Ray, Van (07 May 2014). "Hessencam Interview". Hessencam. Retrieved 20 may 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Van Ray". Artes. 07 May 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)


External links[edit]

DEFAULTSORT:Van Ray

Category:Living people Category:Public art Category:German graffiti artists Category:Pseudonymous artists Category:1984 births Category:German artists

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