Molded by Legos : Ryan Shultz

Name: Ryan   

Nickname: Big Head Jehov- back in the day. With a head of 23 inches in circumferences and was raised Jehovah witness…but was still cool.

Sign:  Aquarius -

Favorite:

Food: Indian Food w/ Garlic Nan. But can make the most badass Eggplant Parmesan.

Book: Lolita-Vladimir Nabokov; a book with the most elegant pros ever constructed in the English language. And there is something to be said considering the fact that English was Vladimir Nabokov’s third language. His first being Russian, French second and English third. If English is your first language and you can’t write better than a man who has it as a third language…you suck

Season: Tricky, I love the Fall because of the crisp air and leaves changing and walking around in the woods, but it’s kind of tricky because when you live in Chicago the weather gets so shit, you go “oh what a beautiful fall “ and you have a week of fall. And then you have sticks for the next 6 months, all the leaves fall on the ground and turns to brown mush and then there is just sticks and ice and horribleness, so I’m almost a little terrified of fall because of what’s to come. There is a bit of anxiety. Unlike Spring I might say spring is my favorite season, or something I look forward too. My libido is on over drive and girls are wearing skirts. Fall is good for a week and then for the next 6 months its all sticks, ice, and horribleness…brown mush on the ground etc…making spring very much something to look forward to.

1. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be?

(Was taken with boisterous laughter)

Tuna fish smoothie w/ orange juice: - bittersweet. Because you would not want to eat my painting in any way (referring to the painting he was currently working on). My work isn’t sexy like gelato. Or that his work is surprisingly tasty, in the sense that you would never read his work as being something delicious but then surprisingly is. Searching for something low calorie but tasty, a snow cone with booze was decided. Snow cone (low brow) with an expensive alcohol (high brow); it would be a fine Chianti Snow Cone

2. How many times have you been pulled over and why?

He has only been pulled over four times, although he admits it should have probably been more. With his incredible luck of being let off, once he was pulled over in another state wearing a crown with pink aviators going 115 mph. The officer let him off, because he explained he was going to spend 4^th of July with his grandparents. He is incredibly lucky when it comes to authority.

3. Best show you have ever been too?

Recently saw Maulers 4th symphony, was moved to tears complete water works. Had never seen Mauler before and it blew him away. The whole production every element to it was phenomenal

Concert: Radiohead in Florence “Hail to the Thief Tour” on a beautiful hill for free. The concert was sold out, but he and his friend took turns looking over a wall 90 ft away from the stage to see the show. With the acoustics amazing, hearing the music was great, in beautiful scenery.

It is a tossup between the two shows.

4. What animal is your spirit guide?

At one time a lot of hallucinogenic were taken to try to find the spirit animal with no avail. But a chameleon seems to be the animal which sticks. Can talk to anyone from a homeless man to a billionaire banker; regardless of topic or social status he can always adapt himself to situations in which he can be able to hold conversations with his company.

5. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing?

There was a looong pause of thought in trying to figure out this answer. Has never said he was never going to do something and always been a reckless person. So…the question was left un answered.

*One thing he has said he will never do, and does not look forward to doing in any way, would be to sleep with a prostitute- but that does not answer the question.

5-II.  What do you hate doing, have to do it?

Hates doing everything, all task or chores; shopping, laundry, cleaning, buying beer etc. “I am a barely functioning individual that somehow gets by”

6. You were slipped a radioactive roofie by an evil scientist and now have mutated, what’s your superpower?

Power as of present- mind control

7. Most Embarrassing Moment?

During one summer romance, a lady friend the time was extremely drunk on jack and proceeded to vomit on the bed, in bathroom, and at some point was laying/ crawling in a river of vomit. Already embarrassed for her, it was when she shit on my bed that took it to the next level. Scrubbing her panties with a carpet cleaner, and scrubbing the bed. The roommates helped out by scrubbing her down in shower.

8. Is there any toy you really wanted as a kid but was never given? Did you ever buy it for yourself when you got older?

No not really. A self proclaimed really weird kid, he would make Barbie dolls and GI Joes have sex. GI’s banging Amazon women. Was given Stretch Armstrong by an aunt and crucified him, built a cross and nailed Stretch to the cross and set it on fire. Does reflect on the fact he had a huge Lego collection, possibly influenced the development in visualizing 3d; the conversion of 3 dimensional space into a 2 dimensional image.

9. Do you have a phobia? Or what is your most irrational fear?

Does not have any phobias or any irrational fears, no fears that not any normal person would have, i.e.: the fear of death. If there was any fear, a fear of his would be sleeping too much. Not as much a fear, but if he sleeps to long it would piss him off. Fear of losing time. Currently is really focused on being a more efficient painter; by not going out, sleeping in front of his painting, anything that would aid in the obsession and being focused on art. So to lose time in over sleeping would be the most irrational fear he has at the moment.

10. What’s the most interesting thing you found lying on the street/sidewalk/ground/random place?

Was walking in Wicker Park brown bagging a bear and found a book “Man, Myth and Magic”. A very odd, strange, weird book with pictures of possibly burning babies and two headed dogs, photos from a possible Rambers Museum. Avoiding the text, because the photos are interesting enough on its own.  The book was possibly from 1978 or 68.

Back in November I had the pleasure of talking with Ryan over Skype for his survey. My first "verbal" interview and my first transcribed, loosely quoted, survey post. His personality is as rich and layered as his work, possessing a charm and dark humor.Without a clue, it wasn't until the day of the interview did I discover Shultz was a contestant on the Bravo Show Work of Art. A show I personally did not care for from the pilot. I had become a fan of his work independently, stumbled upon him on another art blog never mentioning his TV fame. A hour plus long conversation with him was entertaining, informative, and includes a dozen more thoughts that I am unable to share, or have no desire to try and transcribed. Selfishly keeping it to myself.  If you ever get the chance to have a conversation with Ryan, be on your toes, alert, and ready for some knowledge.

Check out more of Ryan's Work Here.

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