Shepparton Art Museum’s major international exhibition Ryan McGinley: YEARBOOK to close 14 July 2024

After more than four successful months of display, Shepparton Art Museum’s (SAM) major exhibition YEARBOOK from American photographer Ryan McGinley will draw to a close on 14 July 2024. Showing exclusively at SAM as part of PHOTO 2024 International Photography Festival, this presentation of McGinley’s famed international project marked the artist’s first solo exhibition in Australia.

Consisting of a single artwork featuring over seven hundred vinyl-printed studio portraits of creatives living and working in New York City and adhered to every available inch of wall in the gallery, YEARBOOK envelops the gallery space with bold colour and form. First presented in New York City in 2009, McGinley has shown this ever-evolving work at major public institutions in Tokyo, Denmark, Korea, and Spain. 

Melinda Martin, SAM CEO, says of the exhibition closing:

“It has been such a privilege to welcome visitors to SAM to experience YEARBOOK over the past months. The exhibition contains such joy, inclusivity, and pride, and we’ve found ourselves constantly surprised and thrilled at the responses people have had to the work. It has been wonderful to be able to present an exhibition that so many in our community have been able to connect with through the incredible representation of people, bodies and identities captured by the artist. It’s a real coup for our community to now have our town on the list of locations this exhibition has travelled to, and we hope people can feel a sense of pride from this.

In its final weeks, we invite everyone to visit, enjoy some final moments with these powerful portraits, and perhaps take some time to watch the interview we recorded with Ryan to hear about the process of making and presenting such a monumental and ever-evolving artwork.”

Renowned for his snapshot-casual style of photography, McGinley’s work draws influence from his personal experiences and American street culture from his youth to present day, with a strong focus on queer identities. Described by GQ Magazine in 2014 as “the most important photographer in America”, his artistic style has evolved from the documentary-photography style that first led to his public discovery, to a more orchestrated creative vision. Commencing the project in 2008, the early photos within YEARBOOK represent McGinley’s first forays into colour studio photography, later signaling his shift into an increasingly studio-based practice.

YEARBOOK will be on display on Level 1 at SAM until 14 July 2024 with free entry.

About Ryan McGinley:

Ryan McGinley is a New York–based photographer. His early photos displayed the unseen intersection of skateboard and graffiti culture, with a strong queer focus. At age twenty-five, he became the youngest artist to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City (NYC). For over a decade, McGinley has road-tripped continuously throughout the United States to create work that incorporates the human body within the American landscape. Dubbed by GQ as “the most important photographer in America”, McGinley can often be found on the streets of NYC participating in queer activism, fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights. McGinley frequently presents international solo gallery and museum exhibitions and has an ongoing studio practice photographing members of NYC’s creative community. 

About SAM:

Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is located on Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria.

As a leading Australian regional art museum, SAM showcases its exhibitions and collections in new and exciting ways, creating a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging space for all visitors.

Recognised for its significant Australian ceramics collection and nationally significant collection of Indigenous art, SAM’s programming is designed to be locally relevant and engages with global contemporary ideas. Through its exhibitions, collection, programs and events, SAM creates a place where art helps us to better understand the ancient cultures of this country and contemporary multicultural Australia.

Featured image: Ryan McGinley, YEARBOOK, installation view, Shepparton Art Museum, 2024. Photo: Shepparton Art Museum