Mark Ryden’s Anima Animals [9782374951416]

Overview

Step into the whimsical and uncanny world of Mark Ryden, the celebrated pioneer of Pop Surrealism.

This lavishly produced volume features 60 color plates, an artist statement, and an insightful essay by Linda Tesner. Encased in Ryden’s signature pink design, the book offers an intimate look at the artist’s creative process, from paintings and drawings to porcelain sculptures and installations.

For over two decades, Ryden has conjured a bestiary of fantastical beings—half-animal, half-plush—infused with nostalgia and mystery. Inspired by mid-century Rushton toys and rendered with the precision of an old master, these creatures blur the boundaries between innocence and eeriness.

In Anima Animals, Ryden unveils more than forty works, including iconic figures like the Snow Yak and his reimagined California bear, alongside new paintings created for his acclaimed exhibition at Galerie Perrotin in Shanghai. Each piece invites viewers into a dreamlike narrative, where archetypes, kitsch, and mysticism collide in a surreal visual symphony.

Perfect for collectors, art enthusiasts, and fans of contemporary surrealism, Anima Animals is more than a monograph—it’s a portal into a universe where imagination reigns supreme and every creature tells a story.