Artist Profile: Ed Ritchie

Written by Phoebe Lysbeth-Mackenzie for Art Ache by Candlelight, Dunedin.

21st June 2018.

When asked to curate this years Dunedin Art Ache’s I knew instantly that It must feature the work of Ed Ritchie. Ed is one of the most present and contemporary thinkers in Dunedin’s current art scene. He has an extraordinary ability to pause time itself…. warmly inviting us all to take a deep breath in and consider the precarious nature of our own fragile realities.

Dunedin artist Ed Ritchie grew up in Dunedin, along west harbour in the quiet suburb of Ravensbourne. Time and place play an integral part in how he works. Ritchie is a multidisciplinary artist who works responsively to given environments, to inhabit the ‘in-between’ space with his sculptural assemblages.

Inspired by second hand stores, free piles, storage space, cupboards, renovation and slow sounds, Ritchie often works with found materials, which he incorporates with drawing, painting and sculpting – to conceptually shape thought.  

“My work ruminates on the transitory and ephemeral nature of our institutional environments. While speculating on the materiality that inhabits its in-between spaces, It explores distractive human nature and the precarious existence of our material identities, working quickly and responsively to ensure the energy of the objects equates to the ‘finished’ sculpture”.

Ed is based in Dunedin, has a Bachelor of Visual Arts with honours from Dunedin School of Art and is inspired by Martin Creed, Kate Newby, Zac Langdon-Pole and Hany Armanious are some of the Visual artists I admire for their clear, simple and conceptual approach to material.

Written by Phoebe Lysbeth MacKenzie for the Dunedin Art Ache by Candlelight, 21st June 2018.

Artist: Ed Ritchie

Event Press Release

Art Ache Collect memorabilia

With thanks to Dirt Gallery.