Ryan Takaba is a material artist whose sculptures, tableaux, and installations are centered around a study of scientific reason and the power of belief. He experiments with properties and functionality of materials to solve design problems, formal aesthetics, and conceptual stances. His interest in material as it pertains to science, exploration of process and duration, chance and unpredictability stem from his training and education in the ceramic discipline.
Takaba earned an MFA in Ceramics from Kent State University and a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Hawai`i. He has received grants and residencies from the European Ceramic Work Center -Netherlands, The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen -China, The Kunstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin -Germany sponsored by The Contemporary Blue Star -San Antonio, Artist Foundation Visual Arts Grant -San Antonio, the Teaching Artist Cohort Grant awarded by The Center for Craft -Asheville, and Artpace -San Antonio. He will be teaching in the foundations department at Arizona State University in the fall. He currently lives in San Antonio, Texas where his practice consists of three components -exhibition work, public art with his collaborative team (R & R & R), and teaching at the University of Texas San Antonio.