Exclusive Interview: Brooklyn-Based Artist Kat Ryals

Showroom Dynasty: Kat Ryals at 5-50 Gallery 5-50 Gallery presents Showroom Dynasty, the first solo exhibition of Brooklyn-based mixed media artist Kat Ryals (b. 1988, Jonesboro, AR). Opening on September 6, 2025 , the exhibition features ten new works from her celebrated Rugs series, curated by Lauren Hirshfield . Ryals transforms discarded and artificial materials—poker chips, bra straps, feathers, playing cards—into intricate, digitally reproduced velvet rugs that blur the line between luxury and kitsch , trash and treasure . Her practice interrogates cultural hierarchies, consumer desire, and the aesthetics of excess, drawing inspiration from Las Vegas casino floors, Baroque ornamentation, and the contradictions of American post-capitalism. With a background in photography, sculpture, and textile-based assemblage, Ryals has exhibited nationally, participated in residencies, and co-founded the arts organization PARADICE PALASE , dedicated to supporting emerging artists. Showroom Dynasty reflects her continued exploration of material culture, questioning how value is constructed in contemporary society. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview her. Hello Kat! Where did you grow up, and where do you currently work and live? I’m currently based in Brooklyn, NY. I was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock. I also spent a lot of time in the rural Cajun Acadiana region of Louisiana, where my grandparents had a farm. When did you realize you wanted to become an artist, and what experiences led to that understanding? I think it’s just in my blood! I grew up being one of those “art kids” who love drawing, painting, and doodling, always entering art contests and taking classes. By high school, art class was clearly my passion. After a SCAD alum visited my school, I decided to apply there for college. I pursued fashion photography for a time, inspired by teenage obsession with fashion magazines, but toward the end of college, I shifted back to fine art and decided to take a chance on an independent practice. My dad also studied art before switching majors, so I’ve always felt the creative spark runs in the family. Tell us about your technique and what motivates you to create art. I’m a mixed media artist exploring dichotomies: natural and artificial, trash and treasure, sacred and profane, luxury and kitsch. My practice spans sculpture, photography, printmaking, textiles, and site-specific installations. I often emulate material culture and organic artifacts, replicating status symbols like rugs, chandeliers, garments, and houseplants—yet subverting them with cheap, found, or recycled materials. Anthropology and psychology influence my perspective. My art studies culture, human desire, and the systems that shape social and environmental disparity. My upbringing—thrift-store scavenging, ornate churches, and time in nature—inform my fascination with excess, preservation, and decay. What sets your work apart? The blending of mediums. While photography isn’t my sole medium anymore, it’s still embedded within my mixed media practice. Recycling, both literally and conceptually, is central—I use discarded objects, but also replicate them through molding, casting, or photographing, giving them new life. Culturally, my perspective is shaped by growing up in suburban Arkansas and spending time in rural Louisiana, while also traveling to Europe in my teens. That contrast between Southern vernacular culture and historic European art and architecture has been deeply formative. Which piece best represents you? My rug series ties together many of my interests. The collages draw from Las Vegas aesthetics, European palatial design, and Southern cultural motifs. A favorite work, In This World You’re a God, references the extravagant Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas—juxtaposed with swamp creatures inspired by my Louisiana roots. It reflects themes of kitsch, artificiality, and the gap between marketed luxury and lived reality. Who or what inspires your work? I’m inspired by books, site visits, and lived experiences. I consider myself a research-based artist, often letting ideas marinate for years before execution. Favorites include The Vatican to Vegas (Norman Klein), Air Guitar (Dave Hickey), and The Artificial Kingdom (Celeste Olalquiaga). I also love Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons series. My rug series was sparked by a 2018 trip to Europe, where I encountered Versailles’ Savonnerie rugs, reminding me of casino carpets and influencing rug-print experiments years later. Museums are a constant source of inspiration. Is there anything outside of the arts that motivates you? Curating feels like a natural extension of my practice, particularly through PARADICE PALASE, an online network supporting emerging artists. I see my curatorial work and rugs as forms of aggregation—building larger narratives from materials. Making the rug series as prints instead of unique collages was a move toward accessibility and democratization of art. How would you prefer people to interact with your work? Sensory engagement matters. My sculptures are uncanny replicas of real objects, and my rugs are velvety prints that invite touch. I aim to create tension between desire and denial, reflecting experiences with alluring but intangible digital images. The rug designs feel luxurious but are built from discarded or artificial materials, prompting reflection on value, consumerism, and waste. What advice would you give to someone pursuing a creative academic education? Art school is invaluable for skills, critical thinking, and community, but it doesn’t fully prepare you for life after. Build supportive networks, learn the business side of art, and set realistic long-term goals. Communities like PARADICE PALASE, NY Crit Club, and Equity Gallery offer opportunities for growth and mentorship. Collaboration is key—peers can create opportunities together. Spread the word! Tell us more about your upcoming solo exhibition. My first solo exhibition, Showroom Dynasty, curated by Lauren Hirshfield, opens at 5-50 Gallery in Long Island City, Queens, on September 6, 2025, from 5–8 PM. The show runs September 6 – October 12, with a Private Artist Talk & Walkthrough on October 2 at 7 PM. Don’t miss it. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hueandeye