Paul Ryan’s powerful swaths of colour and texture on canvas, coupled with compositional brilliance has seen him become one of the most sought after contemporary painters in the country. 

Ryan has an intrinsic love of the landscape. He is willing to discuss in paint uncomfortable moments in our shared history as part of the process of developing a stronger society.  His evocative technique has influenced a generation of artists. He is an artist who never shies away from experimentation in his practice. In 2015 a multi-panelled portrait of actor Noah Taylor cemented his place as an agent provocateur in Australian painting. The inclusion of this work in that year's Archibald Prize marked a shift in the methodology of judging Australia's leading portrait prize. He has been a finalist 13 times in the coveted Archibald Prize, five times in the Wynne and six times in the Sulman Prize. 

He has been a finalist in several other art prizes and is represented in many important public collections including: Mosman Art Gallery, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery, Wollongong University Collection, Artbank, Manly Art Gallery, Lismore Regional Gallery, Geelong Regional Gallery and numerous Australian private collections.

Paul Ryan - Wild Colonial Boy from Sean O'Brien on Vimeo.