Upon first glance Ryden’s work seems to mirror the Surrealists’ fascination with the subconscious and collective memories. However, Ryden transcends the initial Surrealists’ strategies by consciously choosing subject matter loaded with cultural connotation. His dewy vixens, cuddly plush pets, alchemical symbols, religious emblems, primordial landscapes and slabs of meat challenge his audience not necessarily with their own oddity but with the introduction of their soothing cultural familiarity into unsettling circumstances.

Viewers are initially drawn in by the comforting beauty of Ryden’s pop-culture references, then challenged by their circumstances, and finally transported to the artist’s final intent – a world where creatures speak from a place of childlike honesty about the state of mankind and our relationships with ourselves, each other and our past.

Find more about Mark Ryden and his work online at markryden.com.

I really loved his pieces, specially Rose (the first one at this list), which I saw at a tv show once and tried to find it for a long period with no success. This image was in my head for months... but then this week I was browsing around and found it... so I decided to show this and other great pieces from this very talented artist! Enjoy the paintings...