Jim Ricks

{{short description|Irish and American contemporary artist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Jim Ricks | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = Jim Ricks | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = San Francisco, California, United States | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | education = | alma_mater = California College of the Arts,<br /> National University of Ireland, Galway<br />Burren College of Art | known_for = Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen, In Search of the Truth, Carpet Bombing | notable_works = | style = | movement = | spouse = | awards = | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = {{URL|jimricks.info}} | module = | native_name = | native_name_lang = }}

'''Jim Ricks''' is an American conceptual artist, writer, and curator. He has exhibited internationally, including public art projects.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Future Artist-Maker Labs|url=http://futureartistmakers.org/artists/jim-ricks|access-date=2019-12-02|website=futureartistmakers.org}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==Early life and education==

Ricks was born in San Francisco, California.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://clarechampion.ie/ricks-takes-art-to-a-new-form/|title=Ricks takes art to a new form|date=2010-10-28|website=The Clare Champion|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref> He started painting graffiti in the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Graffiti warfare|url=https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/07/12/graffiti-warfare/12508177/|last=Chen|first=Wei-Huan|website=Journal & Courier|language=en|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> He studied photography at the California College of the Arts (2002), and received a Masters from the National University of Ireland, Galway/Burren College of Art programme (2007).<ref name=":publicart">{{cite news|url=https://publicart.ie/main/directory/directory/view/the-poulnabrone-bouncy-dolmen/eaf04daaf5767eda45cc86e7e4278954/|title=The Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen|work=publicart|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=":clarechampion">{{cite news|url=http://clarechampion.ie/ricks-takes-art-to-a-new-form|title=Ricks takes art to a new form|last1=Rainsford|first1=John|date=28 October 2010|work=The Clare Champion|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://clarechampion.ie/working-in-tandem-from-across-the-divide|title=Working in tandem from across the divide|date=14 March 2013|work=The Clare Champion|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=":hughlane">{{cite news|url=http://www.hughlane.ie/past/1016-sleepwalkers-jim-ricks|title=Sleepwalkers: Jim Ricks – Bubblewrap Game: Hugh Lane|date=31 October 2013|work=hughlane|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-date=14 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214215916/http://www.hughlane.ie/past/1016-sleepwalkers-jim-ricks|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CCA alums at the heart of public art in NYC |url=https://www.cca.edu/newsroom/cca-alums-heart-public-art-nyc/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=CCA |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career== [[File:"Carpet Bombing" - Predator.jpg|thumb|Drone imagery incorporated into the traditional method of Afghan carpet making, shown at the Imperial War Museum 2017.|alt=Drone imagery incorporated into the traditional method of Afghan carpet making.]] thumb|"Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen", County Clare, Ireland, 2011|alt=Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen, County Clare, Ireland, 2011 thumb|Diptych from a 2016 exhibition in Mexico City. Ricks utilises appropriation, institutional critique, politics, and humour.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> He has had solo shows in the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-08|title=Proyecto interactivo mundial de arte "En Busca de la Verdad" llega a la Plaza de la Democracia en Puebla - Puebla - Cultura|url=https://www.lajornadadeoriente.com.mx/puebla/arte-en-busca-de-la-verdad-plaza/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=La Jornada de Oriente|language=es-ES}}</ref>

Ricks was a director of 126 Artist-run Gallery from 2007 to 2009, curating and working with artist-run spaces.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-06|title=Circa Art Magazine - Rayne Booth's blog - The year of the exchange (Friday 1 May 2009)|url=http://www.recirca.com/cgi-bin/mysql/show_item.cgi?post_id=4832&type=rbblog&ps=publish|access-date=2020-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406193044/http://www.recirca.com/cgi-bin/mysql/show_item.cgi?post_id=4832&type=rbblog&ps=publish|archive-date=6 April 2013}}</ref> Under Stephanie Syjuco, he created knock-offs of work at the Frieze Art Fair in London, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mahoney|first1=Donald|title=The Art of Imitation|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-art-of-imitation-1.761000|access-date=26 September 2018|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=23 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syjuco|first1=Stephanie|title=Frieze-ing in London (pt 2): postface|url=https://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/11/frieze-ing-in-london-pt-2-postface/|access-date=26 September 2018|work=SFMOMA|date=8 November 2009}}</ref>

In an ongoing body of work, "Jim Ricks has developed the method of ''synchro-materialism'' as a means to consider the territory where art meets capitalism", and he has used this methodology since 2010.<ref name=":pallas">{{cite news|title=Jim Ricks—Synchromaterialism|url= http://pallasprojects.org/index.php/project/synchromaterialism|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref><ref name=":onomatopee">{{cite news|title=ALIEN INVADER SUPER BABY (SYNCHROMATERIALISM IV)|url=https://www.onomatopee.net/exhibition/alien-invader-super-baby-synchromaterialism-iv/|access-date=14 December 2018}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In 2015, in Afghanistan, he made ''Carpet Bombing'', a traditionally fabricated carpet with military drones imagery – an update of Afghan's war rugs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Salomone|first1=Andrew|title=This Handmade Rug Is a Drone Survival Guide|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/handmade-afghan-rug-drone-survival-guide/|access-date=26 September 2018|work=The Creators Project|date=23 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Despite its flaws, 'Age of Terror: Art since 9/11' is a timely reflection of artists' responses to conflict - DesignCurial|url=http://www.designcurial.com/news/age-of-terror-art-since-911-is-a-timely-reflection-6062170/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=www.designcurial.com}}</ref> He participated in the 2017 Ghetto Biennale, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.<ref>{{cite news|date=8 August 2017|title=Fifth Edition of Ghetto Biennale Announces Participating Artists|work=Artforum|url=https://www.artforum.com/news/fifth-edition-of-ghetto-biennale-announces-participating-artists-70221|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>

===Public projects===

* ''Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen'' is a large inflatable sculpture designed to play on.<ref name=":Bouncydolmen">{{cite news|last=Siggins|first=Lorna|date=28 August 2010|title='Bouncy dolmen' goes on show|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/bouncy-dolmen-goes-on-show-1.643681|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=":hughlane"/> It is a double-size replica of the Poulnabrone Dolmen in The Burren. It has traveled around Ireland since June 2011.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 August 2010|title=Bouncy megalith comes to the Aughtys|work=The Clare Champion|url=http://clarechampion.ie/bouncy-megalith-comes-to-the-aughtys/|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=":Glaswegianshoes">{{cite news|last1=Higgins|first1=Charlotte|title=Glaswegian shoes come off for bouncy Stonehenge|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/charlottehigginsblog/2012/may/02/bouncy-stonehenge-glasgow|access-date=26 September 2018|work=The Guardian|date=2 May 2012}}</ref> Cristín Leach of The Sunday Times wrote: <blockquote>"Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen... is a commentary on our past, our present, the concept of "brand Ireland" and the very idea of public art; and everyone is invited to bounce. A temporary, movable, witty, interactive, contemporary public artwork we are all invited to play with? [Alice] Maher has endorsed it as "the best public art piece...ever". She might just be right."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leach |first1=Cristín |title=Let's hear it for the still, beating heart of our artistic landscape |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/lets-hear-it-for-the-still-beating-heart-of-our-artistic-landscape-xsp589q70qr |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=5 June 2011}}</ref> </blockquote>It was shown with Jeremy Deller's 2012 inflatable Stonehenge in Belfast,<ref name=":Glaswegianshoes" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Murphy|first=Liz|date=18 May 2012|title=Karla, Jeremy and Margaret (my Mum)|url=https://issuu.com/anartistsinfo/docs/an_magazine_june_2012|journal=A-N Magazine|volume=#90, June 2012|pages=30|via=Issuu}}</ref> and in the Royal Hibernian Academy.<ref name=":publicart" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Bouncy Tomb Tours Ireland|url=https://makezine.com/2011/07/08/bouncy_tomb_tours_ireland|access-date=26 September 2018|work=Make}}</ref><ref name=":clarechampion" /> * Ricks worked on the global public art project ''In Search of the Truth'' (or ''En Busca de la Verdad'' ) with Ryan Alexiev, Hank Willis Thomas .<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.causecollective.com/projects/httpwww-insearchofthetruth-net/| title = IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH {{!}} CAUSE COLLECTIVE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://insearchofthetruth.net/| title = In Search of the Truth}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jim Ricks|url=http://www.artnet.com/artists/jim-ricks/news|access-date=2019-11-29|website=artnet.com}}</ref> The New York Times writes: "The "Truth Booth"... in the shape of a cartoon word bubble with "TRUTH" in bold letters on its side, serves as a video confessional. Visitors are asked to sit inside and finish the politically and metaphysically loaded sentence that begins, "The truth is ..."".<ref>Randy Kennedy. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/arts/design/political-art-in-a-fractious-election-year.html Political Art in a Fractious Election Year] "The New York Times", 17 July 2016</ref> The project has travelled Ireland, Afghanistan, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Mexico,<ref>{{cite news|date=8 May 2016|title=Cause Collective: In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth)|work=Public Art Fund|url=https://www.publicartfund.org/view/5391_public_programs/6081_cause_collective_in_search_of_the_truth_the_truth_booth|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170410/https://www.publicartfund.org/view/5391_public_programs/6081_cause_collective_in_search_of_the_truth_the_truth_booth|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Corcoran|first=Georgia|date=April 30, 2014|title=To tell the Truth|work=Visual Artists' News Sheet|url=https://issuu.com/visualartistsireland/docs/mar_apr_2014_complete/23}}</ref> recording and then exhibiting the thoughts of many people on the subject of truth in several countries.<ref name=":observer">{{cite news|last1=Paul|first1=Laster|title=Art Basel Visitors Tell All in Hank Willis Thomas' 'Truth Booth'|url=https://observer.com/2014/12/art-basel-visitors-tell-all-in-hank-willis-thomass-truth-booth/|access-date=26 September 2018|work=Observer|date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Search of the Truth: The Truth Booth by Cause Collective|url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/in-search-of-the-truth-the-truth-booth|access-date=26 September 2018|work=Bomb|date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth)|url=https://www.giaf.ie/events/view/in-search-of-the-truth-the-truth-booth|access-date=26 September 2018|work=Galway International Arts Festival|date=24 July 2011}}</ref> * ''Life's a Beach (Art imitates life)'', Gable end mural responding to the political Murals in Northern Ireland, Abercorn Rd., Derry, Northern Ireland, April 2016<ref>{{cite news|last=Quinn|first=Andrew |title=Abercorn Road Mural Unveiled|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/abercorn-road-mural-unveiled-1-7368644|access-date=26 September 2018|work=Derry Journal|date=6 May 2016}}</ref> * ''Sesiones Publicas'', San Agustín, La Lisa, Cuba, a LASA project, August 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasa-cuba.blogspot.com/2017/08/jim-ricks-estados-unidosirlandamexico.html|title=Jim Ricks (Estados Unidos/Irlanda/México)|website=LASA|date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

===Museum projects===

Ricks was involved in ''Sleepwalkers'' (2012–15), at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin. Artists were invited to an "unusual experiment in exhibition production".<ref name=":hughlane2">{{cite news|title=Sleepwalkers: Production as Process|url=http://www.hughlane.ie/past/720-sleepwalkers-production-as-process|access-date=14 December 2018|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206104627/https://hughlane.ie/past/720-sleepwalkers-production-as-process|url-status=dead}}</ref> This included an unauthorised exhibition, an open call,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sleepwalkers: Future Perfect |url=https://hughlane.ie/whats_on/sleepwalkers-future-perfect/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Hugh Lane |language=en-GB}}</ref> a solo show (''Bubblewrap Game: Hugh Lane)'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sleepwalkers: Jim Ricks – Bubblewrap Game: Hugh Lane |url=https://hughlane.ie/whats_on/sleepwalkers-jim-ricks-bubblewrap-game-hugh-lane/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Hugh Lane |language=en-GB}}</ref> and closing performances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything must go now |url=https://hughlane.ie/whats_on/everything-must-go-now-2/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Hugh Lane |language=en-GB}}</ref> Aidan Dunne of the Irish Times describes Ricks's offerings as a "a museum within the museum"<ref name=":4" /> During the programme, he also included works by Richard Hamilton (artist), James Barry, Jeremy Deller, Gerard Dillon, Robert Ballagh, :fr:Raphaël_Zarka, and James Hanley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sleepwalkers |url=https://hughlane.wordpress.com/ |access-date=2020-11-28 |website=Sleepwalkers |language=en}}</ref><ref>Edited by Dempsey, Michael, and Logan Sisley. ''Sleepwalkers''. Dublin: Hugh Lane Gallery and Ridinghouse, 2015. {{ISBN|9781905464982}}</ref>

Ricks was part of ''Age of Terror: Art since 9/11'' at the Imperial War Museum, London, 2018–19.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rae |first=Cormac |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Despite its flaws, 'Age of Terror: Art since 9/11' is a timely reflection of artists' responses to conflict |url=https://www.designcurial.com/news/age-of-terror-art-since-911-is-a-timely-reflection-6062170/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=DesignCurial}}</ref>

He exhibited work made in Afghanistan with Ryan Alexiev, Hank Willis Thomas, and Najeebullah Najeeb at the Trotsky Museum in Mexico City in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EXPOSICIONES |url=http://museotrotsky.org.mx/testimonials_1.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=museotrotsky.org.mx}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Museos |first=De |title=Entrevista {{!}} Los caminos de la verdad de Jim Ricks |url=https://demuseos.mx/f/entrevista-%7C-los-caminos-de-la-verdad-de-jim-ricks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405015005/https://demuseos.mx/f/entrevista-%7B%7Bpipe%7D%7D-los-caminos-de-la-verdad-de-jim-ricks |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=De Museos |language=es-MX |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Solo exhibitions === *2010 – ''Synchromaterialism'', Pallas Contemporary Projects, Dublin, Ireland<ref name=":pallas" /><ref name=":3"/> *2013–2014 – ''Bubble Wrap Game: The Hugh Lane'', Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, Ireland<ref name=":hughlane" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/visual-art/sleepwalkers-artistic-experiments-in-biting-the-hand-that-feeds-1.2120477|title=Sleepwalkers: Artistic experiments in biting the hand that feeds|last=Dunne|first=Aidan|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref> *2015 – ''Alien Invader Super Baby (Synchromaterialism IV)'' Onomatopee, Eindhoven, The Netherlands<ref name=":onomatopee" /> *2016–2017 – ''Centro de Ontología Nacional'', Casa Maauad, Mexico City, Mexico<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=MutualArt.com - The Web's Largest Art Information Service.|url=https://www.mutualart.com/Exhibition/Jim-Ricks--Centro-de-Ontologia-Nacional-/FEA05971FF0E5430|access-date=2020-11-22|website=www.mutualart.com|language=en}}</ref> *2018 – ''Museo Ambulante Sebastián'', Mexico City, Mexico<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latempestad.mx/jim-ricks-sebastian/|title=Jim Ricks reinterpreta a Sebastián|date=28 May 2018|language=es|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref> *2020 ''– Así Luce la Democracia | This is What Democracy Looks Like'', Galeria Daniela Elbahara, Mexico City, Mexico<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.art-agenda.com/features/319866/mexico-city-roundup|title=Mexico City roundup - Features - art-agenda|website=www.art-agenda.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://revistacodigo.com/arte/exposicion-galeria-daniela-elbahara/|title=Así luce la democracia: la exposición de Jim Ricks en la galería Daniela Elbahara|website=revistacodigo.com|language=es|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref> *2021–2022 ''– El camino a París y Londres pasa por las aldeas de Afganistán'', Leon Trotsky Museum, Mexico City<ref>{{Cite web |last=Museos |first=De |title=Entrevista {{!}} Los caminos de la verdad de Jim Ricks |url=https://demuseos.mx/f/entrevista-%7C-los-caminos-de-la-verdad-de-jim-ricks |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=De Museos |language=es-MX}}</ref>

==Bibliography== * Ricks, Jim (Editor), ''Artist-run democracy: sustaining a model, 15 years of 126 gallery'', Eindhoven: Onomatopee, 2022. ISBN 9789493148734<ref>{{Cite web |title=Artist-run democracy: sustaining a model {{!}} Onomatopee |url=https://www.onomatopee.net/exhibition/artist-run-democracy-sustaining-a-model/#publication_18425 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=www.onomatopee.net}}</ref> * de Búrca, Ella, Michaële Cutaya, Jim Ricks. ''IRLDADA: 201916''. Mexico City: Black Crown Press, 2019. {{ISBN|9780578546940|}} <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m98AyAEACAAJ|title=Irldada: 201916|last1=Ricks|first1=Jim|last2=Cutaya|first2=Michaële|last3=Búrca|first3=Ella de|date=2019-09-21|publisher=Black Crown Press|isbn=9780578546940|language=en}}</ref> *Ricks, Jim. ''Alien Invader Super Baby (Synchromaterialism VI)''. Eindhoven: Onomatopee, 2018. {{ISBN|9789491677755}} *Packer, Matt, Declan Long, and Jim Ricks. "Here Comes The Summer", Derry: Centre for Contemporary Art Derry~Londonderry, 2017. *Bossan, Enrico. ''2016 an image of Ireland : contemporary artists from Ireland''. Crocetta del Montello: Antiga edizioni, 2016. {{ISBN|9788899657185}} * Edited by Michael Dempsey and Logan Sisley. ''Sleepwalkers''. Dublin: Hugh Lane Gallery and Ridinghouse, 2015. {{ISBN|9781905464982}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.jimricks.info Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricks, Jim}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American artists Category:American conceptual artists Category:Artists from California Category:Irish contemporary artists Category:Mexican contemporary artists Category:Artists from San Francisco Category:Writers from Galway (city) Category:California College of the Arts alumni Category:Alumni of the University of Galway Category:Year of birth missing (living people)