Ryan Travis Christian

Naughty by Nature

- Joey Garfield

Just beyond the skyscrapers of the greater Chicagoland area is an archipelago of residential communities known as the suburbs, a sprawl of townships that offer a sweet spot between urban and rural culture. While some may dismiss these enclaves as bland, those quick to judge just don’t appreciate the nuance. A suburban lifer by choice, Ryan Travis Christian spends his days drawing and viewing the world from the comfort of his hometown of Warrenville, Illinois. At first glance, there is a cozy, pleasant familiarity enveloping his work that recalls old-timey comics and cartoons. But don’t take Ryan’s rubber hose content strictly at face value. Study his drawings long enough, peel back the initial layer of his scenarios, and behold their provocative core. Since we’ve both been sequestered in the Midwest during this pandemic, I had the geographical advantage of being able to venture out, meet Ryan on his home turf and witness his eye-bulging imagery first hand.

Joey Garfield: So, has Illinois always been your home state?

Ryan Travis Christian: Yeah. All my formative years from seven or eight years old till now have been spent in the suburbs.

Were you an artsy kid or into sports?