New Year’s Honours Success for Ryan Gander

International conceptual artist Ryan Gander, who graduated from BA Interactive Arts at Manchester School of Art in 1999, has been awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours.

Gander, who has become one of the most significant conceptual artists in the UK, with his work displayed at Tate Modern, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art New York and The National Museum of Art, Osaka, has received this prestigious award in recognition of his services to contemporary arts.

In 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts by Manchester School of Art, and remains involved with School.

‘Ryan has become one of Britain’s most significant artists working today. We are hugely proud of the recognition he has received,’ commented Penny Macbeth, Dean of Manchester School of Art.

‘Whilst operating in a conceptual field, his work uses humour and is highly accessible; it has also been described as rigorous and strange, focusing on storytelling and the power of ideas. The form of the work varies hugely, but has included a chess set, a new word, a children’s book, photography, film, drawings and artist’s cocktails.

As an alumnus of Interactive Arts, Ryan is incredibly supportive of the course and School of Art as a whole. He has been a visiting lecturer and still gives artists talks when time permits.

We were delighted to be able to name one of our alumni awards after Ryan.

Since the award’s inception five years ago, Ryan has generously matched the award prize each year, effectively doubling its value. He always takes time to carefully select the winner from our long list, choosing work that exhibits that natural sense of curiosity and enquiry that defines an Interactive Arts student.’

To find out more about our alumni, visit our 'about us' webpage.