As technology continues to advance at an astounding rate, the definition of what we label as "fine art" is quickly changing. We now live in an age completely dominated by digital information-an age where graphic design has become the principal mode of visual communication. Not surprisingly a new wave of contemporary artists influenced by this modern form of communication are making their way from the galleries into the auction houses.These young artists are impacted more by the logo designs of Neville Brody than they are by the paintings of Picasso.

If we were to list out the contemporary artists who are truly defining this new aesthetic, Ryan McGinness would certainly find his name on the top of the page. Based in New York, McGinness' work incorporates layers upon layers of corporate logos and iconography that take their cues from public signage into a rich and deep tapestry that is nothing like what we have seen before.

It can be said that every contemporary artist working today is in some way paying homage to Andy Warhol, and this can be clearly seen in the work of Ryan McGinness. To call McGinness a "silkscreener" would grossly demean his stature in the contemporary art world. And yet, like Warhol, McGinness is a master silkscreener in the same way that Rodin was a master carver. McGinness pushes the craft and technique of graphic design into the fine art world with a deeply skilled command of visual language and identity. People often mistake the practice of graphic design as something "less" than fine art. But what they miss is that when you reduce your subject matter to only its bare essentials, as artists like Shepard Fairey and Ryan McGinness are doing, what you leave on the canvas are only the most powerful elements.

For the groundbreaking way in which he uses symbols and iconography to connect with the viewer on a deeply visceral level, Ryan McGinness is most definitely Character Approved.

[Image: Ryan McGinness]